!Mi;!!}!/Wt!!iiiii:>i"?;! 


>V  rn<<v  be  kept 


THE  NOVELS 

OF 

CAPTAIN   MARRYAT 

EDITED    BY 

R.  BRIMLEY    JOHNSON 


This  Edition  of  Captain  Marry  at"  s  No'velsy 

made  exclusively  for  members  of  the 

NEW  YORK  YACHT  CLUB 

is  strictly  limited  to  one  hundred  copies. 

Copy  No.  /  O 

PRINTED  FOR 

H.  A.  VAN  LIEIF,  Esq. 


A^- 


Digitized  by  the  Internet  Archive 

in  2011  with  funding  from 

LYRASIS  members  and  Sloan  Foundation 


http://www.archive.org/details/japhetinsearchofOOmarr 


NEW  YORK  YACHT  CLUB  EDITION 


JAPHET,   IN   SEARCH 
OF   A    FATHER 


BY 
CAPTAIN  MARRYAT 


NEW  YORK 
CROSCUP  AND    COMPANY 

MDCCCXCVI 


rrsi 


Contents 


PAGE 

Chapter  i         .             .             .             .             .             .            i 

Chapter  ii 

7 

Chapter  hi 

14 

Chapter  iv 

18 

Chapter  v 

24 

Chapter  vi 

29 

Chapter  vii 

37 

Chapter  viii 

4T 

Chapter  ix 

47 

Chapter  x 

53 

Chapter  xi 

60 

Chapter  xii 

67 

Chapter  xiii 

73 

Chapter  xiv 

79 

Chapter  xv 

.         84 

Chapter  xvi 

91 

Chapter  xvii 

.         98 

Chapter  xviii 

.       104 

Chapter  xix 

no 

Chapter  xx 

'       113 

Chapter  xxi 

118 

Chapter  xxii 

.       123 

VI 


Contents 


Chapter 

XXIII    . 

Chapter 

XXIV      . 

Chapter 

XXV        . 

Chapter 

XXVI      . 

Chapter 

XXVII    . 

Chapter 

XXVIII  . 

Chapter 

XXIX      . 

Chapter 

XXX        . 

Chapter 

XXXI      . 

Chapter 

XXXII    . 

Chapter 

XXXIII  . 

Chapter 

XXXIV  . 

Chapter 

XXXV     . 

Chapter 

XXXVI  . 

Chapter 

XXXVII 

Chapter 

XXXVIII 

Chapter 

XXXIX  . 

Chapter 

XL 

Chapter 

XLI 

Chapter 

XLII       . 

Chapter 

XLIII      . 

Chapter 

XLIV      . 

Chapter 

XLV        . 

Chapter 

XL  VI     . 

Chapter 

XLVII     . 

Chapter 

XLVIII  . 

Chapter 

XLIX      . 

Chapter 

L 

Chapter 

LI 

Chapter 

LII 

Chapter 

LIII 

Contents 


vn 


Chapter 

LIV 

Chapter 

LV 

Chapter 

LVI 

Chapter 

LVII 

Chapter 

LVIII       . 

Chapter 

LIX 

Chapter 

LX 

Chapter 

LXI 

Chapter 

LXII        . 

Chapter 

LXIII      . 

Chapter 

LXIV      . 

Chapter 

LXV        . 

Chapter 

LXVI      . 

Chapter 

LXVII     . 

Chapter 

LXVIII  . 

Chapter 

LXIX      . 

Chapter 

LXX       . 

Chapter 

LXXI     . 

Chapter 

LXXII    . 

Chapter 

LXXIII  . 

Chapter 

LXXIV  . 

Chapter 

LXXV    . 

Chapter 

LXXVI  . 

Chapter 

LXXVII . 

Chapter 

LXXVIII 

Chapter 

LXXIX  . 

268 

273 
279 
285 
290 

294 
299 

305 
310 

314 

319 
322 

327 

333 
338 
344 
349 

355 

362 

369 
378 
387 
394 
400 
408 
414 


List  of  Etchings 


The  animal  came  suddenly  round  the  corner  .  Frontispiece 

PAGE 

"Yes,  1  WILL,'*  REPLIED  a  man  on  the  broad  grin        .         89 

"VeLL,  I    SHUPPOSE    I    must   OBLIGE    YOU  "  .  .  I59 

The  other  behind  him  raised  his  weapon  .  .       241 

I  perceived  that  a  young  person  in  a  Quaker's   dress 

WAS    SITTING    BY    THE    BED       .  .  .  .  306 

I    WHIRLED   THE    CRUTCH    ROUND    MY    HEAD  .  .  .  380 

Dra<wn  and  Etched  by  Chas.  O.  Murray. 


Prefatory  Note 

In  the  Metropolitan  Magazine,  where  this  novel  originally 
appeared  (Sep.  1834-Jan.  1 836),  Marryat  prepared  his 
readers  for  its  reception  in  the  following  words  : — 

"  And  having  now  completed  *  Jacob  Faithful,'  we 
trust  to  the  satisfaction  of  our  readers,  we  will  make  a 
few  remarks.  We  commenced  writing  on  our  own  pro- 
fession, and  having  completed  four  tales,  novels,  or  what- 
ever you  may  please  to  call  them  "  (viz.,  Frank  Mildmay, 
The  King's  Own,  Newton  Forster,  Peter  Simple),  "  in 
'  Jacob  Faithful '  we  quitted  the  salt  water  for  the  fresh. 
From  the  wherry  we  shall  now  step  on  shore,  and  in  our 
next  number  we  shall  introduce  to  our  readers  **  The 
Adventures  of  Japhet,  in  search  of  his  Father." 

The  promise  was  faithfully  kept,  and  Japhet,  with  all 
his  varied  experience,  never  went  to  sea.  There  were 
indeed  few  companies  on  land  to  which  he  did  not  pene- 
trate. Reared  in  a  foundling  hospital,  and  apprenticed  to 
a  Smithfield  apothecary,  his  good  looks,  impulsive  self- 
confidence,  and  unbounded  talent  for  lying,  carried  him 
with  eclat  through  the  professions  of  quack  doctor, 
juggler,  and  mountebank,  gentleman  about  town,  tramp, 
and  quaker  :  to  emerge  triumphantly  at  last  as  the  only 
son  of  a  wealthy  Anglo-Indian  general,  or  "  Bengal  tiger," 
as  his  friends  preferred  to  call  him. 

Japhet's  **  adventures,"  of  course,  are  shared  by  a  faith- 
ful friend  and  ally,  Timothy  Oldmixon,  the  Sancho  to 
his  Quixote,  originally  an  orphan  pauper  like  himself, 
composed  of  two  qualities  —  fun  and  affection.  He 
encounters  villains,  lawyers,  kindhearted  peers,  "  rooks  " 


X  Prefatory  Note 

and  '*  pigeons,"  gipsies,  leaders  of  fashion,  fair  maidens — 
enough  and  to  spare.  In  a  word,  Marryat  here  makes  use 
of  well-worn  material,  and  uses  it  well.  He  has  constructed 
a  tale  of  private  adventure  on  the  old  familiar  lines,  in  which 
the  local  colour — acquired  from  other  books — is  admirably- 
laid  on,  and  the  interest  sustained  to  the  end.  The  story 
is  well  told,  enlivened  by  humour,  and  very  respectably 
constructed. 

The  reader  will  find  Japhet  thoroughly  exciting,  and 
will  have  no  difficulty  in  believing  that,  while  it  was 
running  in  the  pages  of  the  Metropolitan,  "  an  American 
vessel  meeting  an  English  one  in  the  broad  Atlantic, 
instead  of  a  demand  for  water  or  supplies,  ran  up  the 
question  to  her  mast-head,  *  Has  Japhet  found  his  father 
yet .? ' " 

Japhet,  in  search  of  a  Father,  is  here  re-printed,  with  a 
few  corrections,  from  the  first  edition  in  3  vols.  Saunders 
&  Otley,  1836.  On  page  360  a  few  words,  enclosed  in 
square  brackets,  have  been  inserted  from  the  magazine 
version,  as  the  abbreviated  sentence,  always  hitherto  repro- 
duced from  the  first  edition,  is  unintelligible. 

R.  B.  J. 


Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father 


Chapter  I 

Like  most  other  children,  who  should  be  my  godfather  is  decided  by 
Mammon — So  precocious  as  to  make  some  noise  in  the  world  and  be 
hung  a  few  days  after  1  was  born — Cut  down  in  time  and  produce  a  scene 
of  bloodshed — My  early  propensities  fully  developed  by  the  choice  of  my 
profession. 

Those  who  may  be  pleased  to  honour  these  pages  with 
a  perusal,  will  not  be  detained  with  a  long  introductory 
history  of  my  birth,  parentage,  and  education.  The  very 
title  implies  that,  at  this  period  of  my  memoirs,  I  was 
ignorant  of  the  two  first ;  and  it  will  be  necessary  for  the 
due  development  of  my  narrative,  that  I  allow  them  to 
remain  in  the  same  state  of  bliss  ;  for  in  the  perusal  of 
a  tale,  as  well  as  in  the  pilgrimage  of  life,  ignorance  of  the 
future  may  truly  be  considered  as  the  greatest  source  of 
happiness.  The  little  that  was  known  of  me  at  this  time 
I  will  however  narrate  as  concisely,  and  as  correctly,  as 

I  am  able.     It  was  on  the 1  really  forget  the  date,  and 

must  rise  from  my  chair,  look  for  a  key,  open  a  closet, 
and  then  open  an  iron  safe  to  hunt  over  a  pile  of  papers — 
it  will  detain  you  too  long — it  will  be  sufficient  to  say  that 

it  was  on  a  night but  whether  the  night  was  dark  or 

moonht,  or  rainy  or  foggy,  or  cloudy  or  fine,  or  starlight, 
I  really  cannot  tell ;  but  it  is  of  no  very  great  consequence. 

Well,  it  was  on  a  night  about  the  hour there  again 

I'm  puzzled,  it  might  have  been  ten,  or  eleven,  or  twelve, 
or  between  any  of  these  hours  ;  nay  it  might  have  been 

F  A 


2  Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father 

past  midnight,  and  far  advancing  to  the  morning,  for  what 
I  know  to  the  contrary.    The  reader  must  excuse  an  infant 

of there  again  I  am  at  a  nonplus  ;  but  we  will  assume 

of  some  days  old — if,  when  wrapped  up  in  flannel  and 
in  a  covered  basket,  and,  moreover,  fast  asleep  at  the  time, 
he  does  not  exactly  observe  the  state  of  the  weather,  and 
the  time  by  the  church  clock.  I  never  before  was  aware 
of  the  great  importance  of  dates  in  telling  a  story ;  but  it 
is  now  too  late  to  recover  these  facts,  which  have  been 
swept  away  into  oblivion  by  the  broad  wing  of  Time. 
I  must  therefore  just  tell  the  little  I  do  know,  trusting 
to  the  reader's  good   nature,   and   to   blanks.      It   is    as 

follows  :— that,  at  the  hour of  the  night the  state 

of  the  weather  being  also 1,  an  infant  of  a  certain  age 

—was  suspended  by  somebody  or  somebodies at  the 

knocker  of  the  FoundUng  Hospital.  Having  made  me  fast, 
the  said  somebody  or  somebodies  rang  a  peal  upon  the 
bell  which  made  the  old  porter  start  up  in  so  great  a 
hurry,  that,  with  the  back  of  his  hand  he  hit  his  better 
half  a  blow  on  the  nose,  occasioning  a  great  suffusion  of 
blood  from  that  organ,  and  a  still  greater  pouring  forth 
of  invectives  from  the  organ  immediately  below  it. 

All  this  having  been  effected  by  the  said  peal  on  the 
bell,  the  said  somebody  or  somebodies  did  incontinently 
take  to  their  heels,  and  disappear  long  before  the  old 
porter  could  pull  his  legs  through  his  nether  garments  and 
obey  the  rude  summons.  At  last  the  old  man  swung  open 
the  gate,  and  the  basket  swung  across  his  nose  ;  he  went 
in  again  for  a  knife  and  cut  me  down,  for  it  was  cruel  to 
hang  a  baby  of  a  few  days  old ;  carried  me  into  the  lodge, 
lighted  a  candle,  and  opened  the  basket.  Thus  did  I 
metaphorically  first  come  to  light. 

When  he  opened  the  basket  I  opened  my  eyes,  and 
although  I  did  not  observe  it,  the  old  woman  was  standing 
at  the  table  in  very  light  attire,  sponging  her  nose  over 
a  basin. 

**  Verily,  a  pretty  babe  with  black  eyes  I  "  exclaimed  the 
old  man  in  a  tremulous  voice. 


Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father  3 

"Black  eyes  indeed,"  muttered  the  old  woman.  *'I 
shall  have  two  to-morrow," 

*'  Beautiful  black  eyes  indeed !  "  continued  the  old  man. 

**  Terrible  black  eyes,  for  sartain,"  continued  the  old 
woman,  as  she  sponged  away. 

**Poor  thing,  it  must  be  cold,"  murmured  the  old 
porter. 

"  Warrant  I  catch  my  death  a-cold,"  muttered  the  wife. 

"  But,  dear  me,  here's  a  paper!"  exclaimed  the  old  man. 

**  Vinegar  and  brown  paper,"  echoed  the  old  woman. 

**  Addressed  to  the  governors  of  the  hospital,"  continued 
the  porter. 

"  Apply  to  the  dispenser  of  the  hospital,"  continued  his 
wife. 

*'  And  sealed,"  said  he. 

"  Get  it  healed,"  said  she. 

"  The  linen  is  good ;  it  must  be  the  child  of  no  poor 
people.     Who  knows  ?  " — soliloquised  the  old  man. 

"  My  poor  nose  !  "  exclaimed  the  old  woman. 

**  I  must  take  it  to  the  nurses,  and  the  letter  I  will  give 
to-morrow,"  said  the  old  porter,  winding  up  his  portion  of 
this  double  soliloquy,  and  tottering  away  with  the  basket 
and  your  humble  servant  across  the  courtyard. 

"There,  it  will  do  now,"  said  the  old  wife,  wiping  her 
face  on  a  tov/el,  and  regaining  her  bed,  in  which  she  was 
soon  joined  by  her  husband,  and  they  finished  their  nap 
without  any  further  interruption  during  that  night. 

The  next  morning  I  was  reported  and  examined,  and 
the  letter  addressed  to  the  governors  was  opened  and  read. 
It  was  laconic,  but  still,  as  most  things  laconic  are,  very 
much  to  the  point. 

"  This  child  was  born  in  wedlock — he  is  to  be  named 
Japhet.    When  circumstances  permit,  he  will  be  reclaimed." 

But  there  vv^as  a  postscript  by  Abraham  Newlands,  Esq., 
promising  to  pay  the  bearer,  on  demand,  the  sum  of  fifty 
pounds.  In  plainer  terms,  there  was  a  bank  note  to  that 
amount  inclosed  in  the  letter.  As  in  general,  the  parties  who 
suspend  children  in  baskets,  have  long  before  suspended 


4  Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father 

cash  payments,  or,  at  all  events,  forget  to  suspend  them 
with  the  baskets,  my  arrival  created  no  little  noise,  to 
which  I  added  my  share,  until  I  obtained  a  share  of  the 
breast  of  a  young  woman,  who,  like  Charity,  suckled  two 
or  three  babies  at  one  time. 

We  have  preparatory  schools  all  over  the  kingdom ; 
for  young  gentlemen,  from  three  to  five  years  of  age, 
under  ladies,  and  from  four  to  seven,  under  either,  or 
both  sexes,  as  it  may  happen ;  but  the  most  preparatory 
of  all  preparatory  schools,  is  certainly  the  Foundling 
Hospital,  which  takes  in  its  pupils,  if  they  are  sent,  from 
one  to  three  days  old,  or  even  hours,  if  the  parents  are 
in  such  extreme  anxiety  about  their  education.  Here  it 
commences  with  their  weaning,  when  they  are  instructed 
in  the  mystery  of  devouring  pap  ;  next,  they  are  taught 
to  walk — and  as  soon  as  they  can  walk — to  sit  still  •,  to 
talk — and  as  soon  as  they  can  talk — to  hold  their  tongues ; 
thus  are  they  instructed  and  passed  on  from  one  part 
of  the  establishment  to  another,  until  they  finally  are 
passed  out  of  its  gates,  to  get  on  in  the  world,  with  the 
advantages  of  some  education,  and  the  still  further  ad- 
vantage of  having  no  father  or  mother  to  provide  for, 
or  relatives  to  pester  them  with  their  necessities.  It  v/as 
so  with  me  :  I  arrived  at  the  age  of  fourteen,  and  notwith- 
standing the  promise  contained  in  the  letter,  it  appeared 
that  circumstances  did  not  permit  of  my  being  reclaimed. 
But  I  had  a  great  advantage  over  the  other  inmates  of 
the  hospital;  the  fifty  pounds  sent  with  me  were  not 
added  to  the  funds  of  the  establishment,  but  generously 
employed  for  my  benefit  by  the  governors,  who  were 
pleased  with  my  conduct,  and  thought  highly  of  my 
abilities.  Instead  of  being  bound  'prentice  to  a  cordwainer 
or  some  other  mechanic,  by  the  influence  of  the  governors, 
added  to  the  fifty  pounds  and  interest,  as  a  premium,  I 
was  taken  by  an  apothecary^  who  engaged  to  bring  me 
up  to  the  profession.  And  now,  that  I  am  out  of  the 
Foundling,  we  must  not  travel  quite  so  fast. 

The  practitioner  who  thus  took  me  by  the  hand  was 
a   Mr   Phineas   Cophagus,  whose   house  was   most   con- 


Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father  5 

veniently  situated  for  business,  one  side  of  the  shop 
looking  upon  Smithfield  Market,  the  other  presenting  a 
surface  of  glass  to  the  principal  street  leading  out  of  the 
same  market.  It  was  a  corner  house,  but  not  in  a  corner. 
On  each  side  of  the  shop  were  two  gin  establishments, 
and  next  to  them  were  two  public-houses  and  then  two 
eating  -  houses,  frequented  by  graziers,  butchers,  and 
drovers.  Did  the  men  drink  so  much  as  to  quarrel  in 
their  cups,  who  was  so  handy  to  plaister  up  the  broken 
heads  as  Mr  Cophagus  ?  Did  a  fat  grazier  eat  himself 
into  an  apoplexy,  how  very  convenient  was  the  ready 
lancet  of  Mr  Cophagus.  Did  a  bull  gore  a  man,  Mr 
Cophagus  appeared  with  his  diachylon  and  lint.  Did  an 
ox  frighten  a  lady,  it  was  in  the  back  parlour  of  Mr 
Cophagus  that  she  was  recovered  from  her  syncope. 
Market  days  were  a  sure  market  to  my  master;  and  if 
an  overdriven  beast  knocked  down  others,  it  only  helped 
to  set  him  on  his  legs.  Our  windows  suffered  occa- 
sionally \  but  whether  it  were  broken  heads,  or  broken 
limbs,  or  broken  windows,  they  were  well  paid  for. 
Every  one  suffered  but  Mr  Phineas  Cophagus,  who  never 
suffered  a  patient  to  escape  him.  The  shop  had  the 
usual  allowance  of  green,  yellow,  and  blue  bottles ;  and 
in  hot  weather,  from  our  vicinity,  we  were  visited  by 
no  small  proportion  of  bluebottle  flies.  We  had  a  white 
horse  in  one  window,  and  a  brown  horse  in  the  other,  to 
announce  to  the  drovers  that  we  supplied  horse-medicines. 
And  we  had  all  the  patent  medicines  in  the  known  world, 
even  to  the  "  all-sufficient  medicine  for  mankind  "  of  Mr 
Enouy;  having  which,  I  wondered,  on  my  first  arrival, 
why  we  troubled  ourselves  about  any  others.  The  shop 
was  large,  and  at  the  back  part  there  was  a  most  capacious 
iron  mortar,  with  a  pestle  to  correspond.  The  first  floor 
was  tenanted  by  Mr  Cophagus,  who  was  a  bachelor ;  the 
second  floor  was  let  j  the  others  were  appropriated  to 
the  housekeeper,  and  to  those  who  formed  the  establish- 
ment. In  this  well-situated  tenement,  Mr  Cophagus  got 
on  swimmingly.     I  will   therefore,  for   the  present,  sink 


6  Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father 

the  shop,  that  my  master  may  rise  in  the  estimation  of 
the  reader,  when  I  describe  his  person  and  his  qualifications. 
Mr  Phineas  Cophagus  might  have  been  about  forty-five 
years  of  age  when  I  first  had  the  honour  of  an  introduc- 
tion to  him  in  the  receiving  room  of  the  Foundling 
Hospital.  He  was  of  the  middle  height,  his  face  was 
thin,  his  nose  very  much  hooked,  his  eyes  small  and  peer- 
ing, with  a  good-humoured  twinkle  in  them,  his  mouth 
large,  and  drawn  down  at  one  corner.  He  was  stout  in 
his  body,  and  carried  a  considerable  protuberance  before 
him,  which  he  was  in  the  habit  of  patting  with  his  left 
hand  very  complacently ;  but  although  stout  in  his  body, 
his  legs  were  mere  spindles,  so  that,  in  his  appearance, 
he  reminded  you  of  some  bird  of  the  crane  genus.  Indeed, 
I  may  say,  that  his  whole  figure  gave  you  just  such  an 
impression  as  an  orange  might  do,  had  it  taken  to  itself 
a  couple  of  pieces  of  tobacco  pipes  as  vehicles  of  locomo- 
tion. He  was  dressed  in  a  black  coat  and  waistcoat, 
white  cravat  and  high  collar  to  his  shirt,  blue  cotton  net 
pantaloons  and  Hessian  boots,  both  fitting  so  tight,  that 
it  appeared  as  if  he  was  proud  of  his  spindle  shanks. 
His  hat  was  broad-brimmed  and  low,  and  he  carried 
a  stout  black  cane  with  a  gold  top  in  his  right  hand, 
almost  always  raising  the  gold  top  to  his  nose  when  he 
spoke,  just  as  we  see  doctors  represented  at  a  consulta- 
tion in  the  caricature  prints.  But  if  his  figure  was 
strange,  his  language  and  manners  were  still  more  so. 
He  spoke,  as  some  birds  fly,  in  jerks,  intermixing  his 
words,  for  he  never  completed  a  whole  sentence,  with 
urn — urn — and  ending  it  with  "  so  on"  leaving  his  hearers 
to  supply  the  context  from  the  heads  of  his  discourse. 
Almost  always  in  motion,  he  generally  changed  his  posi- 
tion as  soon  as  he  had  finished  speaking,  walking  to  any 
other  part  of  the  room,  with  his  cane  to  his  nose,  and 
his  head  cocked  on  one  side,  with  a  self-sufiicient  tiptoe 
gait.  When  I  was  ushered  into  his  presence,  he  was 
standing  with  two  of  the  governors.  "  This  is  the  lad," 
said  one  of  them,  "  his  name  is  Japhet." 


Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father  7 

**  Japhet,"  replied  Mr  Cophagus ;  "  um,  scriptural — 
Shem,  Ham,  um — and  so  on.     Boy  reads  ?  " 

"  Very  well,  and  writes  a  very  good  hand.  He  is  a  very 
good  boy,  Mr  Cophagus." 

**  Read — write — spell — good,  and  so  on.  Bring  him  up 
— rudiments — spatula — write  labels — um — M.D.  one  of 
these  days — make  a  man  of  him — and  so  on,"  said  this 
strange  personage,  walking  round  and  round  me  with  his 
cane  to  his  nose,  and  scrutinising  my  person  with  his 
twinkling  eyes.  I  was  dismissed  after  this  examination  and 
approval,  and  the  next  day,  dressed  in  a  plain  suit  of  clothes, 
was  delivered  by  the  porter  at  the  shop  of  Mr  Phineas 
Cophagus,  who  was  not  at  home  when  I  arrived. 


Chapter  II 

Like  all  Tyros,  I  find   the  rudiments  of  learning   extremely  difficult  and 
laborious,  but  advance  so  rapidly  than  I  can  do  without  my  Master. 

A  TALL,  fresh-coloured,  but  hectic  looking  young  man, 
stood  behind  the  counter,  making  up  prescriptions,  and  a 
dirty  lad,  about  thirteen  years  old,  was  standing  near  with 
his  basket  to  deliver  the  medicines  to  the  several  addresses, 
as  soon  as  they  were  ready.  The  young  man  behind  the 
counter,  whose  name  was  Brookes,  was  within  eighteen 
months  of  serving  his  time,  when  his  friends  intended  to 
establish  him  on  his  own  account,  and  this  was  the  reason 
which  induced  Mr  Cophagus  to  take  me,  that  I  might  learn 
the  business,  and  supply  his  place  when  he  left.  Mr 
Brookes  was  a  very  quiet,  amiable  person,  kind  to  me  and 
the  other  boy  who  carried  out  the  medicines,  and  who  had 
been  taken  by  Mr  Cophagus,  for  his  food  and  raiment. 
The  porter  told  Mr  Brookes  who  I  was,  and  left  me. 
**  Do  you  think  that  you  will  like  to  be  an  apothecary  ? " 
said  Mr  Brookes  to  me,  with  a  benevolent  smile. 

"  Yes  ;  I  do  not  see  why  I  should  not,"  repKed  I. 

**  Stop  a  moment,"  said  the  lad  who  was  waiting  with 


8  Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father 

the  basket,  lookly  archly  at  me,  "  you  hav'n't  got  through 
your  rudimans  yet." 

"  Hold  your  tongue,  Timothy,"  said  Mr  Brookes. 
**  That  you  are  not  very  fond  of  the  rudiments,  as  Mr 
Cophagus  calls  them,  is  very  clear.  Now  walk  off  as  fast 
as  you  can  with  these  medicines,  sir — 14,  Spring  Street ; 
16,  Cleaver  Street,  as  before ;  and  then  to  John  Street,  ^^^ 
Mrs  Smith's.     Do  you  understand  ? " 

**  To  be  sure  I  do — can't  I  read  ?  I  reads  all  the  direc- 
tions, and  all  your  Latin  stuff  into  the  bargain — all  your 
summen  dusses,  horez,  diez,  cockly  hairy.  I  mean  to  set 
up  for  myself  one  of  these  days." 

"  I'll  knock  you  down  one  of  these  days,  Mr  Timothy,  if 
you  stay  so  long  as  you  do,  looking  at  the  print  shops ; 
tkat  you  may  depend  upon." 

"  I  keep  up  all  my  learning  that  way,"  replied  Timothy, 
walking  off  with  his  load,  turning  his  head  round  and 
laughing  at  me,  as  he  quitted  the  shop.  Mr  Brookes 
smiled,  but  said  nothing. 

As  Timothy  went  out,  in  came  Mr  Cophagus.  "Heh! 
Japhet — I  see,"  said  he,  putting  up  his  cane,  "  nothing  to 
do — bad — must  work — um — and  so  on.  Mr  Brookes — boy 
learn  rudiments — good — and  so  on."  Hereupon  Mr  Co- 
phagus took  his  cane  from  his  nose,  pointed  to  the  large  iron 
mortar,  and  then  walked  away  into  the  back  parlour.  Mr 
Brookes  understood  his  master,  if  I  did  not.  He  wiped 
out  the  mortar,  threw  in  some  drugs,  and,  showing  me  how 
to  use  the  pestle,  left  me  to  my  work.  In  half  an  hour  I 
discovered  why  it  was  that  Timothy  had  such  an  objection 
to  what  Mr  Cophagus  facetiously  termed  the  rudiments  of 
the  profession.  It  was  dreadful  hard  work  for  a  boy  ;  the 
perspiration  ran  down  me  in  streams,  and  I  could  hardly 
lift  my  arms.  When  Mr  Cophagus  passed  through  the 
shop  and  looked  at  me,  as  I  continued  to  thump  away  with 
the  heavy  iron  pestle,  "  Good," — said  he,  "  by-and-bye — 
M.D. — and  so  on."  I  thought  it  was  a  very  rough  road  to  such 
preferment,  and  I  stopped  to  take  a  little  breath.  "  By-the- 
by — Japhet — Christian  name—  and  so  on — sirname — heh  !  " 


Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father  9 

'*  Mr  Cophagus  wishes  to  know  your  other  name,"  said 
Mr  Brookes,  interpreting. 

I  have  omitted  to  acquaint  the  reader  that  sirnames  as 
well  as  Christian  names,  are  always  given  to  the  children 
at  the  Foundling,  and  in  consequence  of  the  bank  note 
found  in  my  basket,  I  had  been  named  after  the  celebrated 
personage  whose  signature  it  bore.  **  Newland  is  my 
other  name,  sir,"  replied  I. 

**  Newland — heh  ! — very  good  name — every  body  likes 
to  see  that  name — and  have  plenty  of  them  in  his  pockets 
too — um — very  comfortable — and  so  on,"  replied  Mr 
Cophagus,  leaving  the  shop. 

I  resumed  my  thumping  occupation,  when  Timothy 
returned  with  his  empty  basket.  He  laughed  when  he 
saw  me  at  work.  "  Well,  how  do  you  like  the  rudimans  ? 
— and  so  on — heh  ?  "  said  he,  mimicking  Mr  Cophagus. 

"  Not  overmuch,"  replied  I,  wiping  my  face, 

**  That  was  my  job  before  you  came.  I  have  been  more 
than  a  year,  and  never  have  got  out  of  those  rudimans  yet, 
and  I  suppose  I  never  shall." 

Mr  Brookes,  perceiving  that  I  was  tired,  desired  me  to 
leave  off,  an  order  which  I  gladly  obeyed,  and  I  took  my 
seat  in  a  corner  of  the  shop. 

**  There,"  said  Timothy,  laying  down  his  basket;  **no 
more  work  for  me  hanty  prandium,  is  there,  Mr  Brookes  ?  " 

"  No,  Tim  ;  hut  post  prandium,  you'll  post  off  again." 

Dinner  being  ready,  and  Mr  Cophagus  having  returned, 
he  and  Mr  Brookes  went  into  the  back  parlour,  leaving 
Timothy  and  me  in  the  shop  to  announce  customers.  And 
I  shall  take  this  opportunity  of  introducing  Mr  Timothy 
more  particularly,  as  he  will  play  a  very  conspicuous  part 
in  this  narrative.  Timothy  was  short  in  stature  for  his 
age,  but  very  strongly  built.  He  had  an  oval  face,  with  a 
very  dark  complexion,  grey  eyes  flashing  from  under  their 
long  eyelashes,  and  eyebrows  nearly  meeting  each  other. 
He  was  marked  with  the  small-pox,  not  so  much  as  to  dis- 
figure him,  but  still  it  was  very  perceptible  when  near  to  him. 
His  countenance  was  always  lighted  up  with  merriment; 


lo  Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father 

there  was  such  a  happy,  devil-may-care  expression  in  his 
face,  that  you  liked  him  the  first  minute  that  you  were  in 
his  company,  and  I  was  intimate  with  him  immediately. 

"  I  say,  Japhet,"  said  he,  "  where  did  you  come  from  ? " 

"  The  Foundling,"  replied  I. 

"  Then  you  have  no  friends  or  relations." 

"  If  I  have,  I  do  not  know  where  to  find  them,"  replied 
I,  very  gravely. 

**  Pooh  !  don't  be  grave  upon  it.  I  hav'n't  any  either. 
I  was  brought  up  by  the  parish,  in  the  workhouse.  I  was 
found  at  the  door  of  a  gentleman's  house,  who  sent  me  to 
the  overseers — I  was  about  a  year  old  then.  They  call 
me  a  foundling,  but  I  don't  care  what  they  call  me,  so 
long  as  they  don't  call  me  too  late  for  dinner.  Father  and 
mother,  whoever  they  were,  when  they  ran  away  from  me, 
didn't  run  away  with  my  appetite.  I  wonder  how  long 
master  means  to  play  with  his  knife  and  fork.  As  for  Mr 
Brookes,  what  he  eats  wouldn't  physic  a  snipe.  What's 
your  other  name,  Japhet  ?  " 

"  Newland." 

**  Newland — now  you  shall  have  mine  in  exchange : 
Timothy  Oidmixon  at  your  service.  They  christened  me 
after  the  workhouse  pump,  which  had  *  Timothy  Oidmixon 
fecit '  on  it ;  and  the  overseers  thought  it  as  good  a  name 
to  give  me  as  any  other  ;  so  I  was  christened  after  the 
pump-maker  with  some  of  the  pump  water.  As  soon  as 
I  was  big  enough,  they  employed  me  to  pump  all  the 
water  for  the  use  of  the  workhouse.  I  worked  at  my 
papa,  as  I  called  the  pump,  all  day  long.  Few  sons 
worked  their  father  more,  or  disliked  him  so  much :  and 
now,  Japhet,  you  see,  from  habit,  I'm  pumping  you." 

"  You'll  soon  pump  dry,  then,  for  I've  very  little  to  tell 
you,"  replied  I ;  "  but,  tell  me,  what  sort  of  a  person  is 
our  master  ? " 

"  He's  just  what  you  see  him,  never  alters,  hardly  ever 
out  of  humour,  and  when  he  is,  he  is  just  as  odd  as  ever. 
He  very  often  threatens  me,  but  I  have  never  had  a  blow 
yet,  although  Mr  Brookes  has  complained  once  or  twice." 


Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father  ii 

"  But  surely  Mr  Brookes  is  not  cross  ? " 

**No,  he  is  a  very  good  gentleman;  but  sometimes  I 
carry  on  my  rigs  a  little  too  far,  I  must  say  that.  For  as 
Mr  Brookes  says,  people  may  die  for  want  of  the  medicines, 
because  I  put  down  my  basket  to  play.  It's  very  true ; 
but  I  can't  give  up  *  peg  in  the  ring '  on  that  account. 
But  then  I  only  get  a  box  of  the  ear  from  Mr  Brookes, 
and  that  goes  for  nothing.  Mr  Cophagus  shakes  his  stick, 
and  says,  *  Bad  boy — big  stick — um — won't  forget — next 
time — and  so  on,' "  continued  Timothy,  laughing  ;  "  and 
it  is  so  on,  to  the  end  of  the  chapter." 

By  this  time  Mr  Cophagus  and  his  assistant  had 
finished  their  dinner,  and  came  into  the  shop.  The  former 
looked  at  me,  put  his  stick  to  his  nose,  "  Little  boys — 
always  hungry — um— like  good  dinner — roast  beef — 
Yorkshire  pudding — and  so  on,"  and  he  pointed  with  the 
stick  to  the  back  parlour.  Timothy  and  I  understood  him 
very  well  this  time :  we  went  into  the  parlour,  when  the 
housekeeper  sat  down  with  us  and  helped  us.  She  was  a 
terribly  cross,  little  old  woman,  but  as  honest  as  she  was 
cross,  which  is  all  that  I  shall  say  in  her  favour.  Timothy 
was  no  favourite,  because  he  had  such  a  good  appetite  ; 
and  it  appeared  that  I  was  not  very  likely  to  stand  well  in 
her  good  opinion,  for  I  also  ate  a  great  deal,  and  every 
extra  mouthful  I  took  I  sank  in  her  estimation,  till  I  was 
nearly  at  the  zero,  where  Timothy  had  long  been  for  the 
same  offence  ;  but  Mr  Cophagus  would  not  allow  her  to 
stint  him,  saying,  "  Little  boys  must  eat — or  won't  grow 
— and  so  on." 

I  soon  found  out  that  we  were  not  only  well  fed,  but  in 
every  other  point  well  treated,  and  I  was  very  comfortable 
and  happy.  Mr  Brookes  instructed  me  in  the  art  of 
labelling  and  tying  up,  and  in  a  very  short  time  I  was  very 
expert ;  and  as  Timothy  predicted,  the  rudiments  were 
once  more  handed  over  to  him.  Mr  Cophagus  supplied 
me  with  good  clothes,  but  never  gave  me  any  pocket- 
money,  and  Timothy  and  I  often  lamented  that  we  had  not 
even  a  halfpenny  to  spend. 


12  Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father 

Before  I  had  been  many  months  in  the  shop  •,  Mr  Brookes 
was  able  to  leave  when  any  exigence  required  his  im- 
mediate attendance.  I  made  up  the  pills,  but  he  weighed 
out  the  quantities  in  the  prescriptions ;  if,  therefore, 
any  one  came  in  for  medicines,  I  desired  them  to  wait 
the  return  of  Mr  Brookes,  who  would  be  in  very  soon. 
One  day,  when  Mr  Brookes  was  out,  and  I  was  sitting 
behind  the  counter,  Timothy  sitting  on  it,  and  swinging 
his  legs  to  and  fro,  both  lamenting  that  we  had  no  pocket- 
money,  Timothy  said,  "  Japhet,  I've  been  puzzling  my 
brains  how  we  can  get  some  money,  and  I've  hit  it  at  last ; 
let  you  and  I  turn  doctors ;  we  won't  send  all  the  people 
away  who  come  when  Mr  Brookes  is  out,  but  we'll  physic 
them  ourselves." 

I  jumped  at  the  idea,  and  he  had  hardly  proposed  it, 
when  an  old  woman  came  in,  and  addressing  Timothy, 
said,  "  That  she  wanted  something  for  her  poor  grand- 
child's sore  throat." 

"  I  don't  mix  up  the  medicines,  ma'am,"  replied 
Timothy  j  "  you  must  apply  to  that  gentleman,  Mr 
Newland,  who  is  behind  the  counter — he  understands 
what  is  good  for  every  body's  complaints." 

"  Bless  his  handsome  face — and  so  young  too !  Why, 
be  you  a  doctor,  sir  ? " 

"I  should  hope  so,"  replied  I;  "  what  is  it  you  require 
— a  lotion,  or  an  embrocation  ?  " 

"  I  don't  understand  those  hard  words,  but  I  want 
some  doctor's  stuff." 

"  Very  well,  my  good  woman ;  I  know  what  is  proper," 
replied  I,  assuming  an  important  air.  **  Here,  Timothy, 
wash  out  this  vial  very  clean." 

"  Yes,  sir,"  replied  Timothy,  very  respectfully. 

I  took  one  of  the  measures,  and  putting  in  a  little  green, 
a  little  blue,  and  a  little  white  liquid  from  the  medicine 
bottles  generally  used  by  Mr  Brookes,  filled  it  up  with 
water,  poured  the  mixture  into  the  vial,  corked,  and 
labelled  it,  haustus  statim  sumendus^  and  handed  it  over 
the  counter  to  the  old  woman. 


Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father  13 

"  Is  the  poor  child  to  take  it,  or  is  it  to  rub  outside  ? " 
inquired  the  old  woman. 

**  The  directions  are  on  the  label ; — but  you  don't  read 
Latin  ? " 

**  Deary  me,  no  !  Latin  !  and  do  you  understand  Latin  ? 
what  a  nice  clever  boy  !  " 

"  I  should  not  be  a  good  doctor  if  I  did  not,"  replied  L 
On  second  thoughts,  I  considered  it  advisable  and  safer, 
that  the  application  should  be  external ^  so  I  translated  the 
label  to  her — Haustusy  rub  it  in — statim,  on  the  throat — 
sumendusy  with  the  palm  of  the  hand. 

<*  Deary  me !  and  does  it  mean  all  that  ?  How  much 
have  I  to  pay,  sir  ? " 

"  Embrocation  is  a  very  dear  medicine,  my  good 
woman ;  it  ought  to  be  eighteen-pence,  but  as  you  are  a 
poor  woman,  I  shall  only  charge  you  nine-pence." 

"  Fm  sure  I  thank  you  kindly,"  replied  the  old  woman, 
putting  down  the  money,  and  wishing  me  a  good  morning 
as  she  left  the  shop. 

"  Bravo  !  "  cried  Timothy,  rubbing  his  hands  ;  "  it's 
halves,  Japhet,  is  it  not  ? " 

"  Yes,"  I  replied ;  "  but  first  we  must  be  honest,  and 
not  cheat  Mr  Cophagus ;  the  vial  is  sold,  you  know, 
for  one  penny,  and  I  suppose  the  stuff  I  have  taken  is  not 
worth  a  penny  more.  Now,  if  we  put  aside  two-pence 
for  Mr  Cophagus,  we  don't  cheat  him,  or  steal  his 
property ;  the  other  seven-pence  is  of  course  our  own — 
being  the  profits  of  the  profession^'* 

"But  how  shall  we  account  for  receiving  the  two- 
pence ? "  said  Timothy. 

"  Selling  two  vials  instead  of  one :  they  are  never 
reckoned,  you  know." 

**  That  will  do  capitally,"  cried  Timothy  ;  "  and  now 
for  halves."  But  this  could  not  be  managed  until  Timothy 
had  run  out  and  changed  the  sixpence  -,  we  then  each  had 
our  three-pence  halfpenny,  and  for  once  in  our  lives  could 
say  that  we  had  money  in  our  pockets. 


14  J^pliet,  in  Search  of  a  Father 

Chapter  III 

I  perform  a  wonderful  cure  upon  St  John  Long's  principle,  having  little  or  no 
principle  of  my  own — I  begin  to  puzzle  my  head  with  a  problem^  of  all 
others  most  difficult  to  solve. 

The  success  of  our  first  attempt  encouraged  us  to 
proceed  ;  but  afraid  that  I  might  do  some  mischief, 
I  asked  of  Mr  Brookes  the  nature  and  qualities  of  the 
various  medicines,  as  he  was  mixing  the  prescriptions,  that 
I  might  avoid  taking  any  of  those  which  were  poisonous. 
Mr  Brookes,  pleased  with  my  continual  inquiries,  gave  me 
all  the  information  I  could  desire,  and  thus  I  gained, 
not  only  a  great  deal  of  information,  but  also  a  great  deal 
of  credit  with  Mr  Cophagus,  to  whom  Mr  Brookes  had 
made  known  my  diligence  and  thirst  for  knowledge. 

"  Good — very  good,"  said  Mr  Cophagus  ;  **  fine  boy — 
learns  his  business — M.D.  one  of  these  days — ride  in  his 
coach — um,  and  so  on."  Nevertheless,  at  my  second 
attempt,  I  made  an  awkward  mistake,  which  very  nearly 
led  to  detection.  An  Irish  labourer,  more  than  half  tipsy, 
came  in  one  evening,  and  asked  whether  we  had  such 
a  thing  as  was  called  ^^  A  poor  rnans  plaister.  By  the 
powers,  it  will  be  a  poor  man's  plaister  when  it  belongs 
to  me  5  but  they  tell  me  that  it  is  a  sure  and  sartain  cure 
for  the  thumbago,  as  they  call  it,  which  I've  at  the  small 
of  my  back,  and  which  is  a  hinder  to  my  mounting  up  the 
ladder;  so  as  it's  Saturday  night,  and  I've  just  got  the 
money,  I'll  buy  the  plaister  first,  and  then  try  what  a  little 
whiskey  inside  will  do  ;  the  devil's  in  it  if  it  won't  be 
driven  out  of  me  between  the  two." 

We  had  not  that  plaister  in  the  shop,  but  we  had  blister 
plaister,  and  Timothy,  handing  one  to  me,  I  proffered  it  to 
him.  *'  And  what  may  you  be  after  asking  for  this  same  ? " 
inquired  he. 

The  blister  plaisters  were  sold  at  a  shilling  each,  when 
spread  on  paper,  so  I  asked  him  eighteen-pence,  that  we 
might  pocket  the  extra  sixpence. 


Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father  15 

"  By  the  powers,  one  would  think  that  you  had  made  a 
mistake,  and  handed  me  the  rich  man's  plaister,  instead  of  the 
poor  one's.  It's  less  whiskey  I'll  have  to  drink,  anyhow  ; 
but  here's  the  money,  and  the  top  of  the  morning  to  ye, 
seeing  as  how  it's  jist  getting  late." 

Timothy  and  I  laughed  as  we  divided  the  sixpence.  It 
appeared  that  after  taking  his  allowance  of  whiskey,  the 
poor  fellow  fixed  the  plaister  on  his  back  when  he  went  to 
bed,  and  the  next  morning  found  himself  in  a  condition 
not  be  envied.  It  was  a  week  before  we  saw  him  again, 
and  much  to  the  horror  of  Timothy  and  myself,  he  walked 
into  the  shop  when  Mr  Brookes  was  employed  behind  the 
counter.  Timothy  perceived  him  before  he  saw  us,  and 
pulling  me  behind  the  large  mortar,  we  contrived  to  make 
our  escape  into  the  back  parlour,  the  door  of  which  we 
held  ajar  to  hear  what  would  take  place. 

"  Murder  and  turf !  "  cried  the  man,  **  but  that  was 
the  devil's  own  plaister  that  you  gave  me  here  for  my 
back,  and  it  left  me  as  raw  as  a  turnip,  taking  every  bit  of 
my  skin  off  me  entirely,  foreby  my  lying  in  bed  for  a 
whole  week,  and  losing  my  day's  work." 

"  I  really  do  not  recollect  supplying  you  with  a  plaister, 
my  good  man,"  replied  Mr  Brookes. 

"  Then  by  the  piper  that  played  before  Moses,  if  you 
don't  recollect  it,  I've  an  idea  that  I  shall  never  forget  it. 
Sure  enough,  it  cured  me,  but  wasn't  I  quite  kilt  before  I 
was  cured  ? " 

"  It  must  have  been  some  other  shop,"  observed  Mr 
Brookes.     **  You  have  made  a  mistake." 

**  Devil  a  bit  of  a  mistake,  except  in  selling  me  the 
plaister.     Didn't  I  get  it  of  a  lad  in  this  same  shop  ?  " 

"Nobody  sells  things  out  of  this  shop  without  my 
knowledge." 

The  Irishman  was  puzzled — he  looked  round  the  shop. 
"  Well,  then,  if  this  a'n't  the  shop,  it  was  own  sister  to 
it." 

"  Timothy,"  called  Mr  Brookes. 

**  And  sure  enough  there  was  a  Timothy  in  the  other 


1 6  Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father 

shop,  for  I  heard  the  boy  call  the  other  by  the  name; 
however,  it's  no  matter,  if  it  took  oiF  the  skin,  it  also  took 
away  the  thumbago,  so  the  morning  to  you,  Mr  Pottykarry." 
When  the  Irishman  departed,  we  made  our  appearance. 
"  Japhet,  did  you  sell  a  plaister  to  an  Irishman  ?  " 

i<  Yes — don't  you  recollect,  last  Saturday  ?  and  I  gave 
you  the  shilling." 

"  Very  true  •,  but  what  did  he  ask  for  ?  " 
"  He  asked  for  a  plaister,  but  he  was  very  tipsy,      I 
showed  him  a  blister,  and  he  took  it ; "  and  then  I  looked 
at  Timothy  and  laughed. 

"  You  must  not  play  such  tricks,"  said  Mr  Brookes. 
"  I  see  what  you  have  been  about — it  was  a  joke  to  you, 
but  not  to  him." 

Mr  Brookes,  who  imagined  we  had  sold  it  to  the  Irish- 
man out  of  fun,  then  gave  us  a  very  severe  lecture,  and 
threatened  to  acquaint  Mr  Cophagus,  if  ever  we  played 
such  tricks  again.  Thus  the  affair  blew  over,  and  it  made 
me  very  careful ;  and,  as  every  day  I  knew  more  about 
medicines,  I  v/as  soon  able  to  mix  them,  so  as  to  be  of 
service  to  those  who  applied,  and  before  eighteen  months 
had  expired,  I  was  trusted  with  the  mixing  up  all  the 
prescriptions.  At  the  end  of  that  period  Mr  Brookes  left 
us,  and  I  took  the  whole  of  his  department  upon  myself, 
giving  great  satisfaction  to  Mr  Cophagus. 

And  now  that  I  have  announced  my  promotion,  it  will 
perhaps  be  as  well  that  I  give  the  reader  some  idea  of  my 
personal  appearance,  upon  which  I  have  hitherto  been 
silent.  I  was  thin,  between  fifteen  and  sixteen  years  old, 
very  tall  for  my  age,  and  of  my  figure  I  had  no  reason  to 
be  ashamed ;  a  large  beaming  eye,  with  a  slightly  aquiline 
nose,  a  high  forehead,  fair  in  complexion,  but  with  very 
dark  hair.  I  was  always  what  may  be  termed  a  remarkably 
clean-looking  boy,  from  the  peculiarity  of  my  skin  and 
complexion ;  my  teeth  were  small,  but  were  transparent, 
and  I  had  a  very  deep  dimple  in  my  chin.  Like  all 
embryo  apothecaries,  I  carried  in  my  appearance,  if  not 
the  look  of  wisdom,  most  certainly  that  of  self-sufficiency. 


Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father  17 

which  does  equally  well  with  the  world  in  general.  My 
forehead  was  smooth,  and  very  white,  and  my  dark  locks 
were  combed  back  systematically,  and  with  a  regularity 
that  said,  as  plainly  as  hair  could  do,  "The  owner  of  this 
does  everything  by  prescription,  measurement,  and  rule." 
With  my  long  fingers  I  folded  up  the  little  packets,  with  an 
air  as  thoughtful  and  imposing  as  that  of  a  minister  who  has 
just  presented  a  protocol  as  interminable  as  unintelligible  : 
and  the  look  of  solemn  sagacity  with  which  I  poured  out 
the  contents  of  one  vial  into  the  other,  would  have  well 
become  the  king's  physician,  when  he  watched  the  "  lord's 
anointed  "  in  articulo  mortis. 

As  I  followed  up  my  saturnine  avocation,  I  generally 
had  an  open  book  on  the  counter  beside  me  ;  not  a  marble- 
covered  dirty  volume,  from  the  Minerva  press,  or  a  half- 
bound,  half-guinea's  worth  of  fashionable  trash,  but  a  good, 
honest,  heavy-looking,  wisdom-implying  book,  horribly 
stuffed  with  epithet  of  drug  ;  a  book  in  which  Latin  words 
were  redundant,  and  here  and  there  were  to  be  observed 
the  crabbed  characters  of  Greek.  Altogether,  with  my 
book  and  my  look,  I  cut  such  a  truly  medical  appearance, 
that  even  the  most  guarded  would  not  have  hesitated  to 
allow  me  the  sole  conduct  of  a  whitlow,  from  inflammation 
to  suppuration,  and  from  suppuration  to  cure,  or  have  re- 
fused to  have  confided  to  me  the  entire  suppression  of  a 
gumboil.  Such  were  my  personal  qualifications  at  the  time 
that  I  was  raised  to  the  important  office  of  dispenser  of,  I 
may  say,  life  and  death. 

It  will  not  surprise  the  reader  when  I  tell  him  that  I  was 
much  noticed  by  those  who  came  to  consult,  or  talk  with, 
Mr  Cophagus.  "  A  very  fine  looking  lad  that,  Mr  Co- 
phagus,"  an  acquaintance  would  say.  *'  Where  did  you  get 
him — who  is  his  father  ?  " 

"  Father !  "  Mr  Cophagus  would  reply,  when  they  had 
gained  the  back  parlour,  but  I  could  overhear  him,  "  father, 
um — can't  tell — love — concealment — child  born — foundling 
hospital — put  out — and  so  on." 

This  was  constantly  occurring,  and  the  constant  occur- 

F  B 


1 8  Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father 

rence  made  me  often  reflect  upon  my  condition,  which 
otherwise  I  might,  from  the  happy  and  even  tenor  of  my 
life,  have  forgotten.  When  I  retired  to  my  bed  I  would 
revolve  in  my  mind  all  that  I  had  gained  from  the  governors 
of  the  hospital  relative  to  myself. — The  paper  found  in  the 
basket  had  been  given  to  me.  I  was  born  in  wedlock — at 
least,  so  said  that  paper.  The  sum  left  with  me  also  proved 
that  my  parents  could  not,  at  my  birth,  have  been  paupers. 
The  very  peculiar  circumstances  attending  my  case,  only 
made  me  more  anxious  to  know  my  parentage.  I  was  now 
old  enough  to  be  aware  of  the  value  of  birth,  and  I  was 
also  just  entering  the  age  of  romance,  and  many  were  the 
strange  and  absurd  reveries  in  which  I  indulged.  At  one 
time  I  would  cherish  the  idea  that  I  was  of  a  noble,  if  not 
princely  birth,  and  frame  reasons  for  concealment.  At 
others — but  it  is  useless  to  repeat  the  absurdities  and  castle 
buildings  which  were  generated  in  my  brain  from  mystery. 
My  airy  fabrics  would  at  last  disappear,  and  leave  me  in  all 
the  misery  of  doubt  and  abandoned  hope.  Mr  Cophagus, 
when  the  question  was  sometimes  put  to  him,  would  say, 
"  Good  boy — very  good  boy — don't  want  a  father."  But 
he  was  wrong,  I  did  want  a  father  ;  and  every  day  the  want 
became  more  pressing,  and  I  found  myself  continually 
repeating  the  question,  "  Who  is  my  father  ?  " 


Chapter  IV 

Very  much  puzzled  with  a  new  Patient,  nevertheless  take  my  degree  at 
fifteen  as  an  M.D,  ;  and  what  is  still  more  acceptable,  I  pocket  the  fees. 

The  departure  of  Mr  Brookes,  of  course,  rendered  me 
more  able  to  follow  up  with  Timothy  my  little  professional 
attempts  to  procure  pocket-money  ;  but  independent  of  these 
pillages  by  the  aid  of  pills,  and  making  drafts  upon  our 
master's  legitimate  profits,  by  the  assistance  of  draughts  from 
his  shop,  accident  shortly  enabled  me  to  raise  the  ways 
and  means  in  a  more  rapid  manner.     But  of  this  directly. 


Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father  19 

In  the  meantime  I  was  fast  gaining  knowledge ;  every 
evening  I  read  surgical  and  medical  books,  put  into  my 
hands  by  Mr  Cophagus,  who  explained  whenever  I  applied 
to  him,  and  I  soon  obtained  a  very  fair  smattering  of  my 
profession.  He  also  taught  me  how  to  bleed,  by  making 
me,  in  the  first  instance,  puncture  very  scientifically,  all  the 
larger  veins  of  a  cabbage-ieaf,  until  well  satisfied  with  the 
delicacy  of  my  hand,  and  the  precision  of  my  eye,  he  wound 
up  his  instructions  by  permitting  me  to  breathe  a  vein  in 
his  own  arm. 

"  "Well,"  said  Timothy,  when  he  first  saw  me  practising, 
"  I  have  often  heard  it  said,  there's  no  getting  blood  out  of 
a  turnip  ;  but  it  seems  there  is  more  chance  with  a  cabbage. 
I  tell  you  what,  Japhet,  you  may  try  your  hand  upon  me  as 
much  as  you  please,  for  twopence  a  go." 

I  consented  to  this  arrangement,  and  by  dint  of  practising 
on  Timothy  over  and  over  again,  I  became  quite  perfect. 
I  should  here  observe,  that  my  anxiety  relative  to  my  birth 
increased  every  day,  and  that  in  one  of  the  books  lent  me 
by  Mr  Cophagus,  there  was  a  dissertation  upon  the  human 
frame,  sympathies,  antipathies,  and  also  on  those  features 
and  peculiarities  most  likely  to  descend  from  one  generation 
to  another.  It  was  there  asserted,  that  the  nose  was  the 
facial  feature  most  likely  to  be  transmitted  from  father  to 
son.  As  I  before  have  mentioned,  my  nose  was  rather 
aquiline ;  and  after  I  had  read  this  book,  it  was  surprising 
with  what  eagerness  I  examined  the  faces  of  those  whom 
I  met ;  and  if  I  saw  a  nose  upon  any  man's  face,  at  all 
resembling  my  own,  I  immediately  would  wonder  and 
surmise  whether  that  person  could  be  my  father.  The 
constant  dwelling  upon  the  subject  at  last  created  a  species 
of  monomania,  and  a  hundred  times  a  day  I  would  mutter 
to  myself,  ^^JVho  is  my  father  V^  indeed,  the  very  bells, 
when  they  rung  a  peal,  seemed,  as  in  the  case  of  "Whitting- 
ton,  to  chime  the  question,  and  at  last  I  talked  so  much  on 
the  subject  to  Timothy,  who  was  my  Fidus  Achates j  and 
bosom  friend,  that  I  really  believe,  partial  as  he  was  to  me, 
he  wished  my  father  at  the  devil. 


20  Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father 

Our  shop  was  well  appointed  with  all  that  glare  and 
glitter  with  which  we  decorate  the  ^^  house  of  call"  of 
disease  and  death.  Being  situated  in  such  a  thoroughfare, 
passengers  would  stop  to  look  in,  and  ragged-vested,  and 
in  other  garments  still  more  ragged,  little  boys  would 
stand  to  stare  at  the  variety  of  colours,  and  the  'pottecary 
gentleman,  your  humble  servant,  who  presided  over  so 
many  labelled-in-gold  phalanxes  which  decorated  the  sides 
of  the  shop. 

Among  those  who  always  stopped  and  gazed  as  she 
passed  by,  which  was  generally  three  or  four  times  a  day, 
was  a  well-dressed  female,  apparently  about  forty  years  of 
age,  straight  as  an  arrow,  with  an  elasticity  of  step,  and 
a  decision  in  her  manner  of  walking,  which  was  almost 
masculine,  although  her  form,  notwithstanding  that  it  was 
tall  and  thin,  was  extremely  feminine  and  graceful.  Some- 
times she  would  fix  her  eyes  upon  me,  and  there  was 
a  wildness  in  her  looks,  which  certainly  gave  a  painful 
impression,  and  at  the  same  time  so  fascinated  me,  that 
when  I  met  her  gaze,  the  paper  which  contained  the 
powder  remained  unfolded,  and  the  arm  which  was  pouring 
out  the  liquid  suspended. 

She  was  often  remarked  by  Timothy,  as  well  as  me ; 
and  we  further  observed,  that  her  step  was  not  equal 
throughout  the  day.  In  her  latter  peregrinations,  towards 
the  evening,  her  gait  was  more  vigorous,  but  unequal,  at 
the  same  time  that  her  gaze  was  more  stedfast.  She 
usually  passed  the  shop  for  the  last  time  each  day,  about 
five  o'clock  in  the  afternoon. 

One  evening,  after  we  had  watched  her  past,  as  we 
supposed,  to  return  no  more  till  the  ensuing  morning,  for 
this  peeping  in,  on  her  part,  had  become  an  expected 
occurrence,  and  afforded  much  amusement  to  Timothy, 
who  designated  her  as  the  "mad  woman,"  to  our  great 
surprise,  and  to  the  alarm  of  Timothy,  who  sprang  over 
the  counter,  and  took  a  position  by  my  side,  she  walked 
into  the  shop.  Her  eye  appeared  wild,  as  usual,  but  I 
could  not  make  out  that  it  was  insanity.     I  recovered  my 


Japhet,  in  Search  ot  a  Father  21 

self-possession,  and  desired  Timothy  to  hand  the  lady  a 
chair,  begging  to  know  in  what  way  I  could  be  useful. 
Timothy  walked  round  by  the  end  of  the  counter,  pushed 
a  chair  near  to  her,  and  then  made  a  hasty  retreat  to  his 
former  position.  She  declined  the  chair  with  a  motion  ot 
her  hand,  in  which  there  was  much  dignity,  as  well  as 
grace,  and  placing  upon  the  counter  her  hands,  which  were 
small  and  beautifully  white,  she  bent  forwards  towards  me, 
and  said,  in  a  sweet,  low  voice,  which  actually  startled  me 
by  its  depth  of  melody,  "  I  am  very  ill." 

My  astonishment  increased.  Why,  I  know  not,  because 
the  exceptions  are  certainly  as  many  as  the  general  rule,  we 
always  form  an  estimate  of  the  voice  before  we  hear  it, 
from  the  outward  appearance  of  the  speaker ;  and  when  I 
looked  up  in  her  face,  which  was  now  exposed  to  the  glare 
of  the  argand  lamp,  and  witnessed  the  cadaverous,  pale, 
chalky  expression  on  it,  and  the  crow's  feet  near  the  eyes, 
and  wrinkles  on  her  forehead,  I  should  have  sooner  expected 
to  have  heard  a  burst  of  heavenly  symphony  from  a  thunder- 
cloud, than  such  music  as  issued  from  her  parted  lips. 

"  Good  heavens,  madam ! "  said  I  eagerly  and  respect- 
fully, "  allow  me  to  send  for  Mr  Cophagus." 

"By  no  means,"  replied  she.  "I  come  to  you.  I  am 
aware,"  continued  she  in  an  undertone,  "  that  you  dispense 
medicines,  give  advice,  and  receive  money  yourself." 

I  felt  very  much  agitated,  and  the  blush  of  detection 
mounted  up  to  my  forehead.  Timothy,  who  heard  what 
she  said,  showed  his  uneasiness  in  a  variety  of  grotesque 
ways.  He  drew  up  his  legs  alternately,  as  if  he  were 
dancing  on  hot  plates ,  he  slapped  his  pockets,  grinned, 
clenched  his  fists,  ground  his  teeth,  and  bit  his  lips  till 
he  made  the  blood  come.  At  last  he  sidled  up  to  me, 
"  She  has  been  peeping  and  screwing  those  eyes  of  her's 
into  this  shop  for  something.  It's  all  up  with  both  of  us, 
unless  you  can  buy  her  off." 

"  I  have,  madam,"  said  I,  at  last,  "  ventured  to  prescribe 
in  some  trivial  cases,  and,  as  you  say,  received  money  when 
my  master  is  not  here  j  but  I  am  entrusted  with  the  till." 


22  Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father 

"  I  know — I  know — you  need  not  fear  me.  You  are 
too  modest.  What  I  would  request  is,  that  you  would 
prescribe  for  me,  as  I  have  no  great  opinion  of  your 
master's  talents." 

"  If  you  wish  it,  madam,"  said  I,  bowing  respectfully. 

"  You  have  camphor  julep  ready  made  up,  have  you 
not?" 

"  Yes,  madam,"  replied  I. 

"  Then  do  me  the  favour  to  send  the  boy  with  a  bottle 
to  my  house  directly."  I  handed  down  the  bottle,  she 
paid  for  it,  and  putting  it  into  Timothy's  hands,  desired 
him  to  take  it  to  the  direction  which  she  gave  him. 
Timothy  put  on  his  hat,  cocked  his  eye  at  me,  and  left 
us  alone. 

**  What  is  your  name  ? "  said  she,  in  the  same  melodious 
voice. 

**  Japhet  Newland,  madam,"  replied  I. 

**  Japhet — it  is  a  good,  a  scriptural  name,"  said  the  lady, 
musirg  in  half  soliloquy.  **  Newland — that  sounds  of 
mammon." 

**This  mystery  is  unravelled,"  thought  I,  and  I  was  right 
in  my  conjectures.  "She  is  some  fanatical  methodist;" 
but  I  looked  at  her  again,  and  her  dress  disclaimed  the 
idea,  for  in  it  there  was  much  taste  displayed. 

**  Who  gave  you  that  name  ? "  said  she,  after  a  pause. 

The  question  was  simple  enough,  but  it  stirred  up  a 
host  of  annoying  recollections ;  but  not  wishing  to  make  a 
confidant  of  her,  I  gently  replied,  as  I  used  to  do  in  the 
Foundling  Hospital  on  Sunday  morning — "  My  godfathers 
and  godmothers  in  my  baptism,  ma'am." 

"  My  dear  sir,  I  am  very  ill,"  said  she,  after  a  pause, 
"  will  you  feel  my  pulse  ? " 

I  touched  a  wrist,  and  looked  at  a  hand  that  was 
worthy  of  being  admired.  What  a  pity,  thought  I, 
that  she  should  be  old,  ugly,  and  half  crazy ! 

"Do  you  not  think  that  this  pulse  of  mine  exhibits 
considerable  nervous  excitement  ?  I  reckoned  it  this 
morning,  it  was  at  a  hundred  and  twenty." 


Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father  23 

"It  certainly  beats  quick,"  replied  I,  "but  perhaps 
the  camphor  julep  may  prove  beneficial." 

"  I  thank  you  for  your  advice,  Mr  Newland,"  said 
she,  laying  down  a  guinea,  "and  if  I  am  not  better, 
I  will  call  again,  or  send  for  you.     Good-night." 

She  walked  out  of  the  shop,  leaving  me  in  no  small 
astonishment.  What  could  she  mean  ?  I  was  lost  in 
reverie,  when  Timothy  returned.  The  guinea  remained 
on  the  counter. 

"  I  met  her  going  home,"  said  he.  "  Bless  me — 
a  guinea — why,  Japhet ! "  I  recounted  all  that  had 
passed.  "Well,  then,  it  has  turned  out  well  for  us 
instead  of  ill,  as  I  expected." 

The  us  reminded  me  that  we  shared  profits  on  these 
occasions,  and  I  offered  Timothy  his  half;  but  Tim, 
with  all  his  espieglerie  was  not  selfish,  and  he  stoutly 
refused  to  take  his  share.  He  dubbed  me  an  M.D., 
and  said  I  had  beat  Mr  Cophagus  already,  for  he  had 
never  taken  a  physician's  fee. 

"  I  cannot  understand  it,  Timothy,"  said  I,  after  a 
few  minutes'  thought. 

"I  can,"  replied  Timothy.  "She  has  looked  in  at 
the  window  until  she  has  fallen  in  love  with  your  hand- 
some face ;  that's  it,  depend  upon  it."  As  I  could  find 
no  other  cause,  and  Tim's  opinion  was  backed  by  my  own 
vanity,  I  imagined  that  such  must  be  the  case.  "  Yes, 
'tis  so,"  continued  Timothy,  "as  the  saying  is,  there's 
money  bid  for  you." 

"  I  wish  that  it  had  not  been  by  so  ill-favoured  a  person, 
at  all  events,  Tim,"  replied  I;  "I  cannot  return  her 
affection." 

"Never  mind  that,  so  long  as  you  don't  return  the 
money." 

The  next  evening  she  made  her  appearance,  bought, 
as  before,  a  bottle  of  camphor  julep — sent  Timothy  home 
with  it,  and  asking  my  advice,  paid  me  another  guinea. 

"  Really,  madam,"  said  I,  putting  it  back  towards  her, 
"  I  am  not  entitled  to  it." 


24  Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father 

"  Yes,  you  are,"  replied  she.  "  I  know  you  have  no 
friends,  and  I  also  know  that  you  deserve  them.  You 
must  purchase  books,  you  must  study,  or  you  never  will 
be  a  great  man."  She  then  sat  down,  entered  into  con- 
versation, and  I  was  struck  with  the  fire  and  vigour  of 
the  remarks,  which  were  uttered  in  such  a  melodious 
tqne. 

Her  visits,  during  a  month,  were  frequent,  and  every 
time  did  she  press  upon  me  a  fee.  Although  not  in  love 
with  her  person,  I  certainly  felt  very  grateful,  and  more- 
over was  charmed  with  the  superiority  of  her  mind. 
We  were  now  on  the  most  friendly  and  confiding  terms. 
One  evening  she  said  to  me,  "Japhet,  we  have  now 
been  friends  some  time.     Can  I  trust  you  ?  " 

"  With  your  life,  if  it  were  necessary,"  replied  I. 

"  I  believe  it,"  said  she.  "  Then  can  you  leave  the 
shop  and  come  to  me  to-morrow  evening  ?  " 

**  Yes,  if  you  will  send  your  maid  for  me,  saying  that 
you  are  not  well." 

"  I  will,  at  eight  o'clock.  Farewell,  then,  till  to- 
morrow." 


Chapter  V 

My  vanity  receives  a  desperate  wound,  but  my  heart  remains  unscathed — 
An  anomaly  in  woman,  one  who  despises  beauty. 

The  next  evening  I  left  Timothy  in  charge,  and  repaired 
to  her  house ;  it  was  very  respectable  in  outward  appear- 
ance, as  well  as  its  furniture.  I  was  not,  however, 
shown  up  into  the  first  floor,  but  into  the  room  below. 

"  Miss  Judd  will  come  directly,  sir,"  said  a  tall,  meagre, 
puritanical-looking  maid,  shutting  the  door  upon  me.  In 
a  few  minutes,  during  which  my  pulse  beat  quick  (for 
I  could  not  but  expect  some  disclosure ;  whether  it  was 
to  be  one  of  love  or  murder,  I  hardly  knew  which).  Miss 
Aramathea  Judd,  for  such  was  her  christian  name,  made 


Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father  25 

her  appearance,  and  sitting  down  on  the  sofa,  requested 
me  to  take  a  seat  by  her. 

"  Mr  Newland,"  said  she,  "  I  wish  to — and  I  think 
I  can  entrust  you  with  a  secret  most  important  to  me. 
V/hy  I  am  obliged  to  do  it,  you  will  perfectly  comprehend 
when  you  have  heard  my  story.  Tell  me,  are  you 
attached  to  me  ?  " 

This  was  a  home  question  to  a  forward  lad  of  sixteen. 
I  took  her  by  the  hand,  and  when  I  looked  down  on  it, 
I  felt  as  if  I  was.  I  looked  up  into  her  face,  and  felt 
that  I  was  not.  And,  as  I  now  was  close  to  her,  I 
perceived  that  she  must  have  some  aromatic  drug  in  her 
mouth,  as  it  smelt  strongly — this  gave  me  the  supposition 
that  the  breath  which  drew  such  melodious  tones,  was 
not  equally  sweet,  and  I  felt  a  certain  increased  degree 
of  disgust. 

"I  am  very  grateful,  Miss  Judd,"  replied  I;  "I  hope 
I  shall  prove  that  I  am  attached  when  you  confide  in 
me. 

"  Swear  then,  by  all  that's  sacred,  you  will  not  reveal 
what  I  do  confide." 

**  By  all  that's  sacred  I  will  not,"  replied  I,  kissing  her 
hand  with  more  fervour  than  I  expected  from  myself. 

*'  Do  me  then  the  favour  to  excuse  me  one  minute." 
She  left  the  room,  and  in  a  very  short  time,  there  returned, 
in  the  same  dress,  and,  in  every  other  point  the  same 
person,  but  with  a  young  and  lively  face  of  not  more, 
apparently,  than  twenty-two  or  twenty-three  years  old.  I 
started  as  if  I  had  seen  an  apparation.  "  Yes,"  said  she, 
smiling,  "  you  now  see  Aramathea  Judd  without  disguise  ; 
and  you  are  the  first  who  has  seen  that  face  for  more  than 
two  years.  Before  I  proceed  further,  again  I  say,  may  I 
trust  you — swear  !  " 

"  I  do  swear,"  replied  I,  and  took  her  hand  for  the  book, 
which  this  time  I  kissed  with  pleasure,  over  and  over  again. 
Like  a  young  jackass  as  I  was,  I  still  retained  her  hand, 
throv/ing  as  much  persuasion  as  I  possibly  could  in  my 
eyes.     In  fact,  I  did  enough  to  have  softened  the  hearts  of 


26  Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father 

three  bonnet-makers.  I  began  to  feel  most  dreadfully  in 
love,  and  thought  of  marriage,  and  making  my  fortune, 
and  I  don't  know  what ;  but  all  this  was  put  an  end  to  by 
one  simple  short  sentence,  delivered  in  a  very  decided  but 
soft  voice,  "  Japhet,  don't  be  silly." 

I  was  crushed,  and  all  my  hopes  crushed  with  me.     I 
dropped  her  hand,  and  sat  like  a  fool. 

"  And  now  hear  me.  I  am,  as  you  must  have  already 
found  out,  an  impostor;  that  is,  I  am  what  is  called  a 
religious  adventuress — a  new  term,  I  grant,  and  perhaps 
only  applicable  to  a  very  few.  My  aunt  was  considered, 
by  a  certain  sect,  to  be  a  great  prophetess,  which  I  hardly 
need  tell  you,  was  all  nonsense ;  nevertheless,  there  are 
hundreds  who  believed  in  her,  and  do  so  now.  Brought 
up  with  my  aunt,  I  soon  found  out  what  fools  and  dupes 
may  be  made  of  mankind  by  taking  advantage  of  their 
credulity.  She  had  her  religious  inspirations,  her  trances, 
and  her  convulsions,  and  I  was  always  behind  the  scenes  : 
she  confided  in  me,  and  I  may  say  that  I  was  her  only 
confidant.  You  cannot,  therefore,  wonder  at  my  practising 
that  deceit  to  which  I  have  been  brought  up  from  almost 
my  infancy.  In  person  I  am  the  exact  counterpart  of  what 
my  aunt  was  at  my  age,  equally  so  in  figure,  although  my 
figure  is  now  disguised  to  resemble  that  of  a  woman  of 
her  age.  I  often  had  dressed  myself  in  my  aunt's  clothes, 
put  on  her  cap  and  front,  and  then  the  resemblance  was 
very  striking.  My  aunt  fell  sick  and  died,  but  she  pro- 
mised the  disciples  that  she  would  reappear  to  them,  and 
they  believed  her.  I  did  not.  She  was  buried,  and  by 
many  her  return  was  anxiously  expected.  It  occurred  to 
me  about  a  week  afterwards  that  I  might  contrive  to 
deceive  them.  I  dressed  in  my  aunt's  clothes,  I  painted 
and  disguised  my  face  as  you  have  seen,  and  the  deception 
was  complete,  even  to  myself,  as  I  surveyed  my  counte- 
nance in  the  glass.  I  boldly  set  off  in  the  evening  to  the 
tabernacle,  which  I  knew  they  still  frequented — came  into 
the  midst  of  them,  and  they  fell  down  and  worshipped  me 
as  a  prophetess  risen  from  the  dead ;  deceived,  indeed,  by 


Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father  27 

my  appearance,  but  still  more  deceived  by  their  own 
credulity.  For  two  years  I  have  been  omnipotent  with 
them ;  but  there  is  one  difficulty  which  shakes  the  faith  of 
the  new  converts,  and  new  converts  I  must  have,  Japhet, 
as  the  old  ones  die,  or  I  should  not  be  able  to  fee  my 
physician.  It  is  this :  by  habit  I  can  almost  throw  myself 
into  a  stupor  or  a  convulsion,  but  to  do  that  effectually,  to 
be  able  to  carry  on  the  deception  for  so  long  a  time,  and 
to  undergo  the  severe  fatigue  attending  such  violent 
exertion,  it  is  necessary  that  I  have  recourse  to  stimulants 
— do  you  understand  ?  " 

"  I  do,"  replied  I ;  "  I  have  more  than  once  thought  you 
under  the  influence  of  them  towards  the  evening.  I'm 
afraid  that  you  take  more  than  is  good  for  your  health." 

*'Not  more  than  I  require  for  what  I  have  to  undergo 
to  keep  up  the  faith  of  my  disciples ;  but  there  are  many 
who  waver,  some  who  doubt,  and  I  find  that  my  move- 
ments are  watched.  I  cannot  trust  the  woman  in  this 
house.  I  think  she  is  a  spy  set  upon  me,  but  I  cannot 
remove  her,  as  this  house,  and  all  which  it  contains,  are 
not  mine,  but  belong  to  the  disciples  in  general.  There  is 
another  woman,  not  far  off,  who  is  my  rival ;  she  calls  me 
an  impostor,  and  says  that  she  is  the  true  prophetess,  and 
that  I  am  not  one.  This  will  be  rather  difficult  for  her  to 
prove,"  continued  she,  with  a  mocking  smile.  "Beset  as 
I  am,  I  require  your  assistance,  for  you  must  be  aware  that 
it  is  rather  discreditable  to  a  prophetess,  who  has  risen 
from  the  dead,  to  be  seen  all  day  at  the  gin-shop,  yet 
without  stimulants  now,  I  could  not  exist." 

"  And  how  can  I  assist  you  ? " 

"  By  sending  me,  as  medicine,  that  which  I  dare  no 
longer  procure  in  any  other  way,  and  keeping  the  secret 
which  I  have  imparted." 

"  I  will  do  both  with  pleasure ;  but  yet,"  said  I,  "  is  it 
not  a  pity,  a  thousand  pities,  that  one  so  young — and  tf 
you  will  allow  me  to  add,  so  lovely,  should  give  herself  up 
to  ardent  spirits  ?  Why,"  continued  I,  taking  her  small 
white  hand,  "  why  should  you  carry  on  the  deception ; 


28  Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father 

why  sacrifice  your  health,  and  I  may  say  your  happiness 

"     What  more  I  might  have  said  I  know  not,  probably 

it  might  have  been  an  offer  of  marriage,  but  she  cut  me  short. 

"Why  does  everybody  sacrifice  their  health,  their 
happiness,  their  all,  but  for  ambition  and  the  love  of 
power  ?  It  is  true,  as  long  as  this  little  beauty  lasts,  I 
might  be  courted  as  a  woman,  but  jiever  should  I  be 
worshipped  as — I  may  say — a  god. —  No,  no,  there  is 
something  too  delightful  in  that  adoration,  something  too 
pleasant  in  witnessing  a  crowd  of  fools  stare,  and  men  of 
three  times  my  age,  falling  down  and  kissing  the  hem  of 
my  garment.  This  is,  indeed,  adoration !  the  delight 
arising  from  it  is  so  great,  that  all  other  passions  are 
crushed  by  it — it  absorbs  all  other  feelings,  and  has  closed 
my  heart  even  against  love,  Japhet.  I  could  not,  I  would 
not  debase  myself,  sink  so  low  in  my  own  estimation,  as  to 
allow  so  paltry  a  passion  to  have  dominion  over  me ;  and, 
indeed,  now  that  I  am  so  wedded  to  stimulants,  even  if  I 
were  no  longer  a  prophetess,  it  never  could." 

"  But  is  not  intoxication  one  of  the  most  debasing  of  all 
habits  ? " 

*'  I  grant  you,  in  itself,  but  with  me  and  in  my  situation 
it  is  different.  I  fall  to  rise  again,  and  higher.  I  cannot 
be  what  I  am  without  I  simulate — I  cannot  simulate 
without  stimulants,  therefore  it  is  but  a  means  to  a  great 
and  glorious  ambition." 

I  had  more  conversation  with  her  before  I  left,  but 
nothing  appeared  to  move  her  resolution,  and  I  left  her 
lamenting,  in  the  first  place,  that  she  had  abjured  love, 
because,  notv/ithstanding  the  orris  root,  which  she  kept  in 
her  mouth  to  take  away  the  smell  of  the  spirits,  I  found 
myself  very  much  taken  with  such  beauty  of  person,  com- 
bined with  so  much  vigour  of  mind ;  and  in  the  second, 
that  one  so  young  should  carry  on  a  system  of  deceit  and 
self-destruction.  When  I  rose  to  go  away  she  put  five 
guineas  in  my  hand,  to  enable  me  to  purchase  what  she 
required.  "  Add  to  this  one  small  favour,"  said  I, 
"  Aramathea — allow  me  a  kiss." 


Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father  29 

"  A  kiss,"  replied  she,  with  scorn  ;  '^  no,  Japhet,  look 
upon  me,  for  it  is  the  last  time  you  will  behold  my  youth ; 
look  upon  me  as  a  sepulchre,  fair  without  but  unsavoury 
and  rottenness  within.  Let  me  do  you  a  greater  kindness, 
let  me  awaken  your  dormant  energies,  and  plant  that 
ambition  in  your  soul,  which  may  lead  to  all  that  is  great 
and  good — a  better  path  and  more  worthy  of  a  man  than 
the  one  which  I  have  partly  chosen,  and  partly  destiny  has 
decided  for  me.  Look  upon  me  as  your  friend  5  although 
perhaps,  you  truly  say,  no  friend  unto  myself.  Farewell 
— remember  that  to-morrow  you  will  send  the  medicine 
which  I  require." 

I  left  her,  and  returned  home :  it  was  late.  I  went  to 
bed,  and  having  disclosed  as  much  to  Timothy  as  I  could 
safely  venture  to  do,  I  fell  fast  asleep,  but  her  figure  and 
her  voice  haunted  me  in  my  dreams.  At  one  time,  she 
appeared  before  me  in  her  painted,  enamelled  face,  and 
then  the  mask  fell  off,  and  I  fell  at  her  feet  to  worship  her 
extreme  beauty ;  then  her  beauty  would  vanish,  and  she 
would  appear  an  image  of  loathsomeness  and  deformity, 
and  I  felt  suffocated  with  the  atmosphere  impregnated  with 
the  smell  of  liquor.  I  would  wake  and  compose  myself 
again,  glad  to  be  rid  of  the  horrid  dream,  but  again  would 
she  appear,  with  a  hydra's  tail,  like  Sin  in  Milton's  Paradise 
Lost,  wind  herself  round  me,  her  beautiful  face  gradually 
changing  into  that  of  a  skeleton.  I  cried  out  with  terror, 
and  awoke  to  sleep  no  more,  and  effectually  cured  by  my 
dream  of  the  penchant  which  I  felt  towards  Miss  Aramathea 
Judd. 


Chapter  VI 

My  prescriptions  very  effective  and  palatable,  but  I  lose  my  patient — ^The 
feud  equal  to  that  of  the  Montagues  and  the  Capulets — Results  different 
— Mercutio  comes  off  unhurt. 

The  next  day  I   sent  Timothy  to  purchase  some  highly 
rectified   white   brandy,   which   I   coloured   with   a   blue 


30  Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father 

tincture,  and  added  to  it  a  small  proportion  of  the  essence 
of  cinnamon,  to  disguise  the  smell  j  a  dozen  large  vials, 
carefully  tied  up  and  sealed,  were  despatched  to  her  abode. 
She  now  seldom  called  unless  it  was  early  in  the  morning ; 
I  made  repeated  visits  to  her  house  to  receive  money,  but 
no  longer  to  make  love.  One  day  I  requested  permission 
to  be  present  at  their  meeting,  and  to  this  she  gave 
immediate  consent ;  indeed  we  were  on  the  most  intimate 
terms,  and  when  she  perceived  that  I  no  longer  attempted 
to  play  the  fool,  I  was  permitted  to  remain  for  hours  with 
her  in  conversation.  She  had,  as  she  told  me  she  intended, 
re-enamelled  and  painted  her  face,  but  knowing  what 
beauty  was  concealed  underneath,  I  no  longer  felt  any 
disgust. 

Timothy  was  very  much  pleased  at  his  share  of  this 
arrangement,  as  he  seldom  brought  her  the  medicine 
without  pocketing  half-a-crown. 

For  two  or  three  months  every  thing  went  on  very 
satisfactorily ;  but  one  evening,  Timothy,  who  had  been 
sent  with  the  basket  of  vials  for  Miss  Judd's  assistance, 
returned  in  great  consternation,  informing  me  that  the 
house  was  empty.  He  had  inquired  of  the  neighbours, 
and  from  the  accounts  given,  which  were  very  contra- 
dictory, it  appeared  that  the  rival  prophetess  had  marched 
up  at  the  head  of  her  proselytes  the  evening  before,  had 
obtained  entrance,  and  that  a  desperate  contention  had  been 
the  result.  That  the  police  had  been  called  in,  and  all 
parties  had  been  lodged  in  the  watch-house ;  that  the 
whole  affair  was  being  investigated  by  the  magistrates,  and 
that  it  was  said  that  Miss  Judd  and  all  her  coadjutors  would 
be  sent  to  the  Penitentiary.  This  was  quite  enough  to 
frighten  two  boys  hke  us;  for  days  afterwards  we 
trembled  when  people  came  into  the  shop,  expecting  to  be 
summoned  and  imprisoned.  Gradually,  however,  our  fears 
were  dismissed,  but  I  never  from  that  time  heard  any  thing 
more  of  Miss  Aramathea  Judd. 

After  this  affair,  I  adhered  steadily  to  my  business,  and 
profiting  by  the  advice  given  me  by  that  young  person. 


Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father  31 

improved  rapidly  in  my  profession,  as  well  as  in  general 
knowledge ;  but  my  thoughts,  as  usual,  were  upon  one 
subject — my  parentage,  and  the  mystery  hanging  over  it. 
My  eternal  reveries  became  at  last  so  painful,  that  I  had 
recourse  to  reading  to  drive  them  away,  and  subscribing 
to  a  good  circulating  library,  I  was  seldom  without  a  book 
in  my  hand.  By  this  time  I  had  been  nearly  two  years 
and  a  half  with  Mr  Cophagus,  when  an  adventure  occurred 
which  I  must  attempt  to  describe  with  all  the  dignity  with 
which  it  ought  to  be  invested. 

This  is  a  world  of  ambition,  competition,  and  rivalry. 
Nation  rivals  nation,  and  flies  to  arms,  cutting  the  throats 
of  a  few  thousands  on  each  side  till  one  finds  that  it  has 
the  worst  of  it.  Man  rivals  man,  and  hence  detraction, 
duels,  and  individual  death.  Woman  rivals  woman,  and 
hence  loss  of  reputation  and  position  in  high,  and  loss  of 
hair,  and  fighting  with  pattens  in  low,  life.  Are  we  then 
to  be  surprised  that  this  universal  passion,  undeterred  by 
the  smell  of  drugs  and  poisonous  compounds,  should  enter 
into  apothecaries'  shops  ?  But  two  streets — two  very 
short  streets  from  our  own — was  situated  the  single- 
fronted  shop  of  Mr  Ebenezer  Pleggit.  Thank  heaven, 
it  was  only  single-fronted ;  there,  at  least,  we  had  the 
ascendancy  over  them.  Upon  other  points,  our  advantages 
were  more  equally  balanced.  Mr  Pleggit  had  two  large 
coloured  bottles  in  his  windows  more  than  we  had ;  but 
then  we  had  two  horses,  and  he  had  only  one.  He  tied 
over  the  corks  of  his  bottles  with  red-coloured  paper; 
we  covered  up  the  lips  of  our  vials  with  delicate  blue. 
It  certainly  was  the  case — for  though  an  enemy,  I'll  do 
him  justice — that,  after  Mr  Brookes  had  left  us,  Mr 
Pleggit  had  two  shopmen,  and  Mr  Cophagus  only  one; 
but  then  that  one  was  Mr  Japhet  Newland ;  besides,  one 
of  his  assistants  had  only  one  eye,  and  the  other  squinted 
horribly,  so  if  we  measured  by  eyes,  I  think  the  advantage 
was  actually  on  our  side;  and,  as  far  as  ornament  went, 
most  decidedly ;  for  who  would  not  prefer  putting  on  his 
chimney-piece    one    handsome,   elegant    vase,    than    two 


^2  Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father 

damaged,  ill-looking  pieces  of  crockery  ?  Mr  Pleggit 
had  certainly  a  gilt  mortar  and  pestle  over  his  door,  which 
Mr  Cophagus  had  omitted  when  he  furnished  his  shop  ; 
but  then  the  mortar  had  a  great  crack  down  the  middle, 
and  the  pestle  had  lost  its  knob.  And  let  me  ask  those 
who  have  been  accustomed  to  handle  it,  what  is  a  pestle 
without  a  knob  ?  On  the  whole,  I  think,  with  the 
advantage  of  having  two  fronts,  like  Janus,  we  certainly 
had  the  best  of  the  comparison  ;  but  I  shall  leave  the 
impartial  to  decide. 

All  I  can  say  is,  that  the  feuds  of  the  rival  houses  were 
most  bitter — the  hate  intense — the  mutual  scorn  un- 
measurable.  Did  Mr  Ebenezer  Pleggit  meet  Mr  Phineas 
Cophagus  in  the  street,  the  former  immediately  began  to 
spit  as  if  he  had  swallowed  some  of  his  own  vile 
adulterated  drugs ;  and  in  rejoinder,  Mr  Cophagus  im- 
mediately raised  the  cane  from  his  nose  high  above  his 
forehead  in  so  threatening  an  attitude  as  almost  to  warrant 
the  other  swearing  the  peace  against  him,  muttering, 
"Ugly  puppy — knows  nothing — um — patients  die — and 
so  on." 

It  may  be  well  supposed  that  this  spirit  of  enmity 
extended  through  the  lower  branches  of  the  rival  houses 
— the  assistants  and  I  were  at  deadly  feud ;  and  this  feud 
was  even  more  deadly  between  the  boys  who  carried  out 
the  medicines,  and  whose  baskets  might,  in  some  measure, 
have  been  looked  upon  as  the  rival  ensigns  of  the  parties, 
they  themselves  occupying  the  dangerous  and  honourable 
post  of  standard  bearers. 

Timothy,  although  the  kindest-hearted  fellow  in  the 
world,  was  as  good  a  hater  as  Dr  Johnson  himself  could 
have  wished  to  meet  with ;  and  when  sometimes  his 
basket  was  not  so  well  filled  as  usual,  he  would  fill  up 
with  empty  bottles  below,  rather  than  that  the  credit  of 
the  house  should  be  suspected,  and  his  deficiencies  create 
a  smile  of  scorn  in  the  mouth  of  his  red-haired  antagonist, 
when  they  happened  to  meet  going  their  rounds.  As  yet, 
no  actual   collision   had   taken   place   between  either  the 


I 


Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father  33 

principals  or  the  subordinates  of  the  hostile  factions ;  but 
it  was  fated  that  this  state  of  quiescence  should  no  longer 
remain. 

Homer  has  sung  the  battles  of  gods,  demigods,  and 
heroes  ;  Milton  the  strife  of  angels.  Swift  has  been  great 
in  his  Battle  of  the  Books ;  but  I  am  not  aware  that  the 
battle  of  the  vials  has  as  yet  been  sung ;  and  it  requires 
a  greater  genius  than  was  to  be  found  in  those  who  por- 
trayed the  conflicts  of  heroes,  demigods,  gods,  angels,  or 
books,  to  do  adequate  justice  to  the  mortal  strife  which 
took  place  between  the  lotions,  potions,  draughts,  pills, 
and  embrocations.  I  must  tell  the  story  as  well  as  I  can, 
leaving  it  as  an  outline  for  a  future  epic. 

Burning  with  all  the  hate  which  infuriated  the  breasts 
of  the  two  houses  of  Capulet  and  Montague,  hate  each 
day  increasing  from  years  of  "  biting  thumbs "  at  each 
other,  and  yet  no  excuse  presenting  itself  for  an  affray, 
Timothy  Oldmixon — for  on  such  an  occasion  it  would  be 
a  sin  to  omit  his  whole  designation — Timothy  Oldmixon, 
I  say,  burning  with  hate  and  eager  with  haste,  turning 
a  corner  of  the  street  with  his  basket  well  filled  with 
medicines  hanging  on  his  left  arm,  encountered,  equally 
eager  in  his  haste,  and  equally  burning  in  his  hate,  the 
red-haired  Mercury  of  Mr  Ebenezer  Pleggit.  Great  was 
the  concussion  of  the  opposing  baskets,  dire  was  the 
crash  of  many  of  the  vials,  and  dreadful  was  the  mingled 
odour  of  the  abominations  which  escaped,  and  poured 
through  the  wicker  interstices.  Two  ladies  from  Billings- 
gate, who  were  near,  indulging  their  rhetorical  powers, 
stopped  short.  Two  tom  cats,  who  were  on  an  adjacent 
roof,  just  fixing  their  eyes  of  enmity,  and  about  to  fix 
their  claws,  turned  their  eyes  to  the  scene  below.  Two 
political  antagonists  stopped  their  noisy  arguments.  Two 
dustmen  ceased  to  ring  their  bells ;  and  two  little  urchins 
eating  cherries  from  the  crowns  of  their  hats,  lost  sight 
of  their  fruit,  and  stood  aghast  with  fear.  They  met, 
and  met  with  such  violence,  that  they  each  rebounded 
many   paces  j   but   like   stalwart   knights,  each   kept   his 


34  Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father 

basket  and  his  feet.  A  few  seconds  to  recover  breath  •, 
one  withering,  fiery  look  from  Timothy,  returned  by  his 
antagonist,  one  flash  of  the  memory  in  each  to  tell  them 
that  they  each  had  the  la  on  their  side,  and  "  Take  that  !  " 
was  roared  by  Timothy,  planting  a  well-directed  blow 
with  his  dexter  and  dexterous  hand  upon  the  sinister  and 
sinisterous  eye  of  his  opponent.  "  Take  that !  "  continued 
he,  as  his  adversary  reeled  back ;  "  take  that,  and  be 
d d  to  you,  for  running  against  a  gentleman^'* 

He  of  the  rubicund  hair  had  retreated,  because  so 
violent  was  the  blow  he  could  not  help  so  doing,  and  we 
all  must  yield  to  fate.  But  it  was  not  from  fear.  Seizing 
a  vile  potation  that  was  labelled  "to  be  taken  im- 
mediately," and  hurling  it  with  demoniacal  force  right 
on  the  chops  of  the  courageous  Timothy,  "  Take  that ! " 
cried  he,  with  a  rancorous  yell.  This  missile,  well 
directed  as  the  spears  of  Homer's  heroes,  came  full  upon 
the  bridge  of  Timothy's  nose,  and  the  fragile  glass 
shivering,  inflicted  divers  wounds  upon  his  physiognomy, 
and  at  the  same  time  poured  forth  a  dark  burnt-sienna 
coloured  balsam,  to  heal  them,  giving  pain  unutterable. 
Timothy,  disdaining  to  lament  the  agony  of  his  wounds, 
followed  the  example  of  his  antagonist,  and  hastily  seizing 
a  similar  bottle  of  much  larger  dimensions,  threw  it  with 
such  force  that  it  split  between  the  eyes  of  his  opponent. 
Thus  with  these  dreadful  weapons  did  they  commence  the 
mortal  strife. 

The  lovers  of  good  order,  or  at  least  of  fair  play, 
gathered  round  the  combatants,  forming  an  almost  im- 
pregnable ring,  yet  of  suflicient  dimensions  to  avoid  the 
missiles.  **  Go  it,  red-head  /  "  "  Bravo  I  white  apron  I  "  re- 
sounded on  every  side.  Draughts  now  met  draughts 
in  their  passage  through  the  circumambient  air,  and 
exploded  like  shells  over  a  besieged  town.  Bolusses 
were  fired  with  the  precision  of  cannon  shot,  pill-boxes 
were  thrown  with  such  force  that  they  burst  like  grape 
and  canister,  while  acids  and  alkalies  hissed,  as  they 
neutralised  each  other's  power,   with   all   the   venom  of 


Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father  ;^^ 

expiring  snakes.  "Bravo!  white  apron!"  *' Red-head 
for  ever  !  "  resounded  on  every  side  as  the  conflict  con- 
tinued with  unabated  vigour.  The  ammunition  was  fast 
expending  on  both  sides,  when  Mr  Ebenezer  Pleggit, 
hearing  the  noise,  and  perhaps  smelling  his  own  drugs, 
was  so  unfortunately  rash  and  so  unwisely  foolhardy,  as 
to  break  through  the  sacred  ring,  advancing  from  behind 
with  uplifted  cane  to  fell  the  redoubtable  Timothy,  when 
a  mixture  of  his  own,  hurled  by  his  own  red-haired 
champion,  caught  him  in  his  open  mouth,  breaking  against 
his  only  two  remaining  front  teeth,  extracting  them  as 
the  discharged  liquid  ran  down  his  throat,  and  turning 
him  as  sick  as  a  dog.  He  fell,  was  taken  away  on  a 
shutter,  and  it  was  some  days  before  he  was  again  to  be 
seen  in  his  shop,  dispensing  those  medicines  which,  on 
this  fatal  occasion,  he  would  but  too  gladly  have  dispensed 
with. 

Reader,  have  you  not  elsewhere  read  in  the  mortal 
fray  between  knights,  when  the  casque  has  been  beaten 
oflT,  the  shield  lost,  and  the  sword  shivered,  how  they 
have  resorted  to  closer  and  more  deadly  strife  with  their 
daggers  raised  on  high  ?  Thus  it  was  with  Timothy  • 
his  means  had  failed,  and  disdaining  any  longer  to  wage 
a  distant  combat,  he  closed  vigorously  with  his  panting 
enemy,  overthrew  him  in  the  first  struggle,  seizing  from 
his  basket  the  only  weapons  which  remained,  one  single 
vial,  and  one  single  box  of  pills.  As  he  sat  upon 
his  prostrate  foe,  first  he  forced  the  box  of  pills  into 
his  gasping  jnouth,  and  then  with  the  lower  end  of 
the  vial  he  drove  it  down  his  throat,  as  a  gunner  rams 
home  the  wad  and  shot  into  a  thirty-two  pound  carronade. 
Choked  with  the  box,  the  fallen  knight  held  up  his  hands 
for  quarter ;  but  Timothy  continued  until  the  end  of 
the  vial  breaking  out  the  top  and  bottom  of  the  paste- 
board receptacle,  forty-and-eight  of  antibilious  pills  rolled 
in  haste  down  Red-head's  throat.  Timothy  then  seized 
his  basket,  and  amid  the  shouts  of  triumph,  walked  away. 
His  fallen-crested  adversary  coughed  up  the  remnants  of 


36  Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father 

the  pasteboard,  once  more  breathed,  and  was  led  dis- 
consolate to  the  neighbouring  pump  ;  while  Timothy  re- 
gained our  shop  with  his  blushing  honours  thick  upon 
him. 

But  I  must  drop  the  vein  heroical.  Mr  Cophagus,  who 
was  at  home  when  Timothy  returned,  was  at  first  very 
much  inclined  to  be  wroth  at  the  loss  of  so  much  medicine ; 
but  when  he  heard  the  story,  and  the  finale,  he  was  so 
pleased  at  Tim's  double  victory  over  Mr  Pleggit  and  his 
messenger,  that  he  actually  put  his  hand  in  his  pocket, 
and  pulled  out  half-a-crown. 

Mr  Pleggit,  on  the  contrary,  was  any  thing  but  pleased ; 
he  went  to  a  lawyer,  and  commenced  an  action  for  assault 
and  battery,  and  all  the  neighbourhood  did  nothing  but 
talk  about  the  affray  which  had  taken  place,  and  the  action 
at  law  which  it  was  said  would  take  place  in  the  ensuing 
term. 

But  with  the  exception  of  this  fracas,  which  ended  in 
the  action  not  holding  good,  whereby  the  animosity  was 
increased,  I  have  little  to  recount  during  the  remainder 
of  the  time  I  served  under  Mr  Cophagus.  I  had  been 
more  than  three  years  with  him  when  my  confinement 
became  insupportable.  I  had  but  one  idea,  which  per- 
formed an  everlasting  cycle  in  my  brain— Who  was  my 
father  ?  And  I  should  have  abandoned  the  profession  to 
search  the  world  in  the  hope  of  finding  my  progenitor, 
had  it  not  been  that  I  was  without  the  means.  Latterly, 
I  had  hoarded  up  all  I  could  collect ;  but  the  sum  was 
small,  much  too  small  for  the  proposed  expedition.  I 
became  melancholy,  indifferent  to  the  business,  and  slovenly 
in  my  appearance,  when  a  circumstance  occurred  which 
put  an  end  to  my  further  dispensing  medicines,  and  left 
me  a  free  agent. 


Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father  'yj 


Chapter  VII 

Looking  out  for  business  not  exactly  minding  your  own  business — The 
loss  of  the  scales  occasions  the  loss  of  place  to  Timothy  and  me,  who 
when  weighed  in  other  scales  were  found  wanting — We  bundle  off  with 
our  bundles  on. 

It  happened  one  market-day  that  there  was  an  overdriven, 
infuriated  beast,  which  was  making  sad  havoc.  Crowds 
of  people  were  running  past  our  shop  in  one  direction, 
and  the  cries  of  "  Mad  bull !  "  were  re-echoed  in  every 
quarter.  Mr  Cophagus,  who  was  in  the  shop,  and  to 
whom,  as  I  have  before  observed,  a  mad  bull  was  a 
source  of  great  profit,  very  naturally  looked  out  of  the 
shop  to  ascertain  whether  the  animal  was  near  to  us. 
In  most  other  countries,  when  people  hear  of  any  danger, 
they  generally  avoid  it  by  increasing  their  distance  j  but 
in  England,  it  is  too  often  the  case,  that  they  are  so  fond 
of  indulging  their  curiosity,  that  they  run  to  the  danger. 
Mr  Cophagus,  who  perceived  the  people  running  one 
way,  naturally  supposed,  not  being  aware  of  the  extreme 
proximity  of  the  animal,  that  the  people  were  running 
to  see  what  was  the  matter,  and  turned  his  eyes  in  that 
direction,  walking  out  on  the  pavement  that  he  might 
have  a  fairer  view.  He  was  just  observing,  "  Can't  say — 
fear — um — rascal   Pleggit  —  close   to   him  —  get    all   the 

custom  —  wounds  —  contusions  —  and  " when   the 

animal  came  suddenly  round  the  corner  upon  Mr 
Cophagus,  who  had  his  eyes  the  other  way,  and  before 
he  could  escape,  tossed  him  through  his  own  shop 
windows,  and  landed  him  on  the  counter.  Not  satisfied 
with  this,  the  beast  followed  him  into  the  shop.  Timothy 
and  I  pulled  Mr  Cophagus  over  towards  us,  and  he 
dropped  inside  the  counter,  where  we  also  crouched, 
frightened  out  of  our  wits.  To  our  great  horror  the 
bull  made  one  or  two  attempts  to  leap  the  counter ;  but 
not  succeeding,  and  being  now  attacked  by  the  dogs  and 


38  Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father 

butcher  boys,  he  charged  at  them  through  the  door, 
carrying  away  our  best  scales  on  his  horns  as  a  trophy, 
as  he  galloped  out  of  the  shop  in  pursuit  of  his  persecutors. 
When  the  shouts  and  hallooes  were  at  some  little  distance, 
Timothy  and  I  raised  our  heads  and  looked  round  us  ; 
and  perceiving  that  all  was  safe,  we  proceeded  to  help 
Mr  Cophagus,  who  remained  on  the  floor  bleeding,  and 
in  a  state  of  insensibility.  "We  carried  him  into  the  back 
parlour  and  laid  him  on  the  sofa.  I  desired  Timothy  to 
run  for  surgical  aid  as  fast  as  he  could,  while  I  opened 
a  vein  5  and  in  a  few  minutes  he  returned  with  our 
opponent,  Mr  Ebenezer  Pleggit.  We  stripped  Mr 
Cophagus,  and  proceeded  to  examine  him.  **Bad  case 
this — very  bad  case  indeed,  Mr  Newland — dislocation  of 
the  OS  humeri — severe  contusion  on  the  os  frontis — and 
I'm  very  much  afraid  there  is  some  intercostal  injury. 
Very  sorry,  very  sorry,  indeed,  for  my  brother  Cophagus." 
But  Mr  Pleggit  did  not  appear  to  be  sorry ;  on  the 
contrary,  he  appeared  to  perform  his  surgical  duties  with 
the  greatest  glee. 

We  reduced  the  dislocation,  and  then  carried  Mr  Co- 
phagus up  to  his  bed.  In  an  hour  he  was  sensible,  and  Mr 
Pleggit  took  his  departure,  shaking  hands  with  Mr  Co- 
phagus, and  wishing  him  joy  of  his  providential  escape. 
**  Bad  job,  Japhet,"  said  Mr  Cophagus  to  me. 

"  Very  bad  indeed,  sir  j  but  it  might  have  been  worse." 

"  Worse — um — no,  nothing  worse — not  possible." 

"Why,  sir,  you  might  have  been  killed." 

"  Pooh  !  didn't  mean  that — mean  Pleggit — rascal — um 
— kill  me  if  he  can — sha'n't  though — soon  get  rid  of  him — 
and  so  on." 

"  You  will  not  require  his  further  attendance  now  that 
your  shoulder  is  reduced.  I  can  very  well  attend  upon 
you." 

"  Very  true,  Japhet ; — but  won't  go—sure  of  that — 
damned  rascal  —  quite  pleased  —  I  saw  it  —  um  —  eyes 
twinkled — smile  checked — and  so  on." 

That  evening  Mr  Pleggit  called  in  as  Mr  Cophagus  said 


Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father  39 

that  he  would,  and  the  latter  showed  a  great  deal  of  im- 
patience ;  but  Mr  Pleggit  repeated  his  visits  over  and  over 
again,  and  I  observed  that  Mr  Cophagus  no  longer  made 
any  objection;  on  the  contrary,  seemed  anxious  for  his 
coming,  and  still  more  so,  after  he  was  convalescent,  and 
able  to  sit  at  his  table.  But  the  mystery  was  soon  divulged. 
It  appeared  that  Mr  Cophagus,  although  he  was  very  glad 
that  other  people  should  suffer  from  mad  bulls,  and  come 
to  be  cured,  viewed  the  case  in  a  very  different  light  when 
the  bull  thought  proper  to  toss  him,  and  having  now 
realised  a  comfortable  independence,  he  had  resolved  to 
retire  from  business,  and  from  a  site  attended  with  so  much 
danger.  A  hint  of  this  escaping  him  when  Mr  Pleggit  was 
attending  him  on  the  third  day  after  his  accident,  the  latter, 
who  knew  the  value  of  the  locale^  also  hinted  that  if  Mr 
Cophagus  was  inclined  so  to  do,  that  he  would  be  most 
happy  to  enter  into  an  arrangement  with  him.  Self-interest 
will  not  only  change  friendship  into  enmity,  in  this  rascally 
world,  but  also  turn  enmity  into  friendship.  All  Mr  Pleggit's 
enormities,  and  all  Mr  Cophagus'  shameful  conduct,  were 
mutually  forgotten.  It  less  than  ten  minutes  it  was,  "  My 
dear  Mr  Pleggit,  and  so  on,"  and  "  My  dear  brother  Cophagus^"* 

In  three  weeks  every  thing  had  been  arranged  between 
them,  and  the  shop,  fixtures,  stock  in  trade,  and  good  will, 
were  all  the  property  of  our  ancient  antagonist.  But 
although  Mr  Pleggit  could  shake  hands  with  Mr  Cophagus 
for  his  fixtures  and  good  nuill,  yet  as  Timothy  and  I  were 
not  included  in  the  good  will,  neither  were  we  included 
among  thejixtures,  and  Mr  Cophagus  could  not,  of  course 
interfere  with  Mr  Pleggit's  private  arrangements.  He  did 
all  he  could  do  in  the  way  of  recommendation,  but  Mr 
Pleggit  had  not  forgotten  my  occasional  impertinences  or 
the  battle  of  the  bottles.  I  really  believe  that  his  ill  ivill 
against  Timothy  was  one  reason  for  purchasing  the  good 
will  of  Mr  Cophagus,  and  we  were  very  gently  told  by  Mr 
Pleggit  that  he  would  have  no  occasion  for  our  services. 

Mr  Cophagus  offered  to  procure  me  another  situation  as 
soon  as  he  could,  and  at  the  same  time  presented  me  with 


40  Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father 

twenty  guineas,  as  a  proof  of  his  regard  and  appreciation 
of  my  conduct — but  this  sum  put  in  my  hand  decided  me : 
I  thanked  him,  and  told  him  I  had  other  views  at  present, 
but  hoped  he  would  let  me  know  where  I  might  find  him 
hereafter,  as  I  should  be  glad  to  see  him  again.  He  told  me 
he  would  leave  his  address  for  me  at  the  Foundling  Hospital, 
and  shaking  me  heartily  by  the  hand,  we  parted.  Timothy 
was  then  summoned.  Mr  Cophagus  gave  him  five  guineas, 
and  wished  him  good  fortune. 

**  And  now,  Japhet,  what  are  you  about  to  do  ?  "  said 
Timothy,  as  he  descended  into  the  shop. 

"  To  do,"  replied  I ;  •*  I  am  about  to  leave  you,  which 
is  the  only  thing  I  am  sorry  for.  I  am  going,  Timothy,  in 
search  of  my  father." 

**  Well,"  replied  Timothy,  "  I  feel  as  you  do,  Japhet, 
that  it  will  be  hard  to  part ;  and  there  is  another  tjhing  on 
my  mind — which  is,  I  am  very  sorry  that  the  bull  did  not 
break  the  rudimans  (pointing  to  the  iron  mortar  and 
pestle)  •,  had  he  had  but  half  the  spite  I  have  against  it,  he 
would  not  have  left  a  piece  as  big  as  a  thimble.  I've  a 
great  mind  to  have  a  smack  at  it  before  I  go." 

"  You  will  only  injure  Mr  Cophagus,  for  the  mortar  will 
not  then  be  paid  for." 

"Very  true;  and  as  he  has  just  given  me  five  guineas, 
I  will  refrain  from  my  just  indignation.  But  now,  Japhet, 
let  me  speak  to  you.  I  don't  know  how  you  feel,  but  I 
feel  as  if  I  could  not  part  with  you.  I  do  not  want  to  go 
in  search  of  my  father  particularly.  They  say  it's  a  wise 
child  that  knows  its  own  father — but  as  there  can  be  no 
doubt  of  my  other  parent — if  I  can  only  hit  upon  her,  I 
have  a  strong  inclination  to  go  in  search  of  my  mother,  and 
if  you  like  my  company,  why  I  will  go  with  you — always, 
my  dear  Japhet,"  continued  Tim,  "  keeping  in  my  mind  the 
great  difference  between  a  person  who  has  been  feed  as  an 
M.D.,  and  a  lad  who  only  carries  out  his  prescriptions." 

"  Do  you  really  mean  to  say,  Tim,  that  you  will  go 
with  me  ? " 

"  Yes,  to  the  end  of  the  world,  Japhet,  as  your  com 


Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father  41 

panion,  your  friend,  and  your  servant,  if  you  require  it.     I 
love  you,  Japhet,  and  I  will  serve  you  faithfully." 

"  My  dear  Tim,  I  am  delighted ;  now  I  am  really  happy  : 
we  will  have  but  one  purse,  and  but  one  interest ;  if  I  find 
good  fortune,  you  shall  share  it." 

*'  And  if  you  meet  with  ill  luck,  I  will  share  that  too — 
so  the  affair  is  settled — and  as  here  come  Mr  Pleggit's 
assistants  with  only  one  pair  of  eyes  between  them,  the 
sooner  we  pack  up  the  better." 

In  half  an  hour  all  was  ready ;  a  bundle  each,  contained 
our  wardrobes.  We  descended  from  our  attic,  walked 
proudly  through  the  shop  without  making  any  observation, 
or  taking  any  notice  of  our  successors ;  all  the  notice  taken 
was  by  Timothy,  who  turned  round  and  shook  his  fist  at 
his  old  enemies,  the  iron  mortar  and  pestle ;  and  there  we 
were,  standing  on  the  pavement,  with  the  wide  world 
before  us,  and  quite  undecided  which  way  we  should  go. 

"Is  it  to  be  east,  west,  north,  or  south,  Japhet  ? "  said 
Timothy. 

"  The  wise  men  came  from  the  east,"  replied  I. 

" Then  they  must  have  travelled  west,"  said  Tim ;  "let 
us  show  our  wisdom  by  doing  the  same." 

"  Agreed." 

Passing  by  a  small  shop,  we  purchased  two  good  sticks, 
as  defenders,  as  well  as  to  hang  our  bundles  on — and  off 
we  set  upon  our  pilgrimage. 


Chapter  VIII 

We  take  a  coach,  but  the  driver  does  not  like  his  fare  and  hits  us  foul — We 
change  our  mode  of  travelling  upon  the  principle  of  slow  and  sure,  and 
fall  in  with  a  very  learned  man. 

I  BELIEVE  it  to  be  a  very  general  custom,  when  people  set 
off  upon  a  journey,  to  reckon  up  their  means — that  is,  to 
count  the  money  which  they  may  have  in  their  pockets. 
At  all  events,  this  was  done  by  Timothy  and  me,  and  I 


42  Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father 

found  that  my  stock  amounted  to  twenty-two  pounds 
eighteen  shillings,  and  Timothy's  to  the  five  guineas  pre- 
sented by  Mr  Cophagus,  and  three  halfpence  which  were 
in  the  corner  of  his  waistcoat  pocket — sum  total,  twenty- 
eight  pounds  three  shillings  and  three  halfpence  ;*  a  very 
handsome  sum,  as  we  thought,  with  which  to  commence 
our  peregrinations,  and,  as  I  observed  to  Timothy,  suffi- 
cient to  last  us  for  a  considerable  time,  if  husbanded  with 
care. 

"  Yes,"  replied  he,  "  but  we  must  husband  our  legs 
also,  Japhet,  or  we  shall  soon  be  tired,  and  very  soon 
wear  out  our  shoes.  I  vote  we  take  a  hackney 
coach." 

**  Take  a  hackney  coach,  Tim  !  we  mustn't  think  of  it ; 
we  cannot  afford  such  a  luxury ;  you  can't  be  tired  yet, 
we  are  now  only  just  clear  of  Hyde  Park  Corner." 

"  Still  I  think  we  had  better  take  a  coach,  Japhet,  and 
here  is  one  coming.  I  always  do  take  one  when  I  carry 
out  medicines,  to  make  up  for  the  time  I  lose  looking  at 
the  shops,  and  playing  peg  in  the  ring." 

I  now  understood  what  Timothy  meant,  which  was, 
to  get  behind  and  have  a  ride  for  nothing.  I  consented  to 
this  arrangement,  and  we  got  up  behind  one  which  was 
already  well  filled  inside.  "  The  only  difference  between 
an  inside  and  outside  passenger  in  a  hackney  coach,  is  that 
one  pays,  and  the  other  does  not,"  said  I,  to  Timothy,  as 
we  rolled  along  at  the  act  of  parliament  speed  of  four 
miles  per  hour. 

**  That  depends  upon  circumstances :  if  we  are  found 
out,  in  all  probability  we  shall  not  only  have  our  ride,  but 
be  paid  into  the  bargain." 

"  With  the  coachman's  whip,  I  presume  ? " 

"  Exactly."  And  Timothy  had  hardly  time  to  get  the 
word  out  of  his  mouth,  when  flac,  flac,  came  the  whip 
across  our  eyes — a  little  envious  wretch,  with  his  shirt 
hanging  out  of  his  trousers,  having  called  out,  Cut  behind! 
Not  wishing  to  have  our  faces,  or  our  behinds  cut  any 
more,  we   hastily  descended,  and  reached   the   footpath, 


Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father  43 

after  having  gained  about  three  miles  on  the  road  before 
we  were  discovered. 

"  That  wasn't  a  bad  lift,  Japhet,  and  as  for  the  whip  I 
never  mind  that  with  corduroys.  And  now,  Japhet,  I'll  tell 
you  something ;  we  must  get  into  a  wagon,  if  we  can  find 
one  going  down  the  road,  as  soon  as  it  is  dark." 

"  But  that  will  cost  money,  Tim." 

"  It's  economy,  I  tell  you  -,  for  a  shilling,  if  you  bargain, 
you  may  ride  the  whole  night,  and  if  we  stop  at  a  public- 
house  to  sleep,  we  shall  have  to  pay  for  our  beds,  as  well 
as  be  obliged  to  order  something  to  eat,  and  pay  dearer 
for  it  than  if  we  buy  what  we  want  at  cooks'  shops." 

"  There  is  sense  in  what  you  say,  Timothy  -,  we  will 
look  out  for  a  wagon." 

"  Oh  !  it's  no  use  now — wagons  are  like  black  beetles, 
not  only  in  shape  but  in  habits,  they  only  travel  by  night 
— at  least  most  of  them  do.  We  are  now  coming  into 
long  dirty  Brentford,  and  I  don't  know  how  you  feel, 
Japhet,  but  I  find  that  walking  wonderfully  increases  the 
appetite — that's  another  reason  why  you  should  not  walk 
when  you  can  ride — for  nothing." 

"Well,  I'm  rather  hungry  myself ;  and  dear  me,  how 
very  good  that  piece  of  roast  pork  looks  in  that  window ! " 

"  I  agree  with  you — let's  go  in  and  make  a  bargain  !  " 

We  bought  a  good  allowance  for  a  shilling,  and  after 
sticking  out  for  a  greater  proportion  of  mustard  than  the 
woman  said  we  were  entitled  to,  and  some  salt,  we 
wrapped  it  up  in  a  piece  of  paper,  and  continued  our 
course,  till  we  arrived  at  a  baker's,  where  we  purchased 
our  bread,  and  then  taking  up  a  position  on  a  bench  out- 
side a  public-house,  called  for  a  pot  of  beer,  and  putting 
our  provisions  down  before  us,  made  a  hearty,  and,  what 
made  us  more  enjoy  it,  an  independent  meal.  Having 
finished  our  pork  and  our  porter,  and  refreshed  ourselves, 
we  again  started  and  walked  till  it  was  quite  dark,  when 
we  felt  so  tired  that  we  agreed  to  sit  down  on  our  bundles 
and  wait  for  the  first  wagon  which  passed.  We  soon 
heard   the  jingling   of  bells,  and  shortly  afterwards  its 


44  Jap^st,  in  Search  of  a  Father 

enormous  towering  bulk  appeared  between  us  and  the  sky. 
We  went  up  to  the  wagoner,  who  was  mounted  on  a 
little  pony,  and  asked  him  if  he  could  give  two  poor  lads 
a  lift,  and  how  much  he  would  charge  us  for  the  ride. 

"How  much  can  you  aiford  to  give,  measters  ?  for 
there  be  others  as  poor  as  ye."  We  replied  that  we  could 
give  a  shilling.  "  Well,  then,  get  up  in  God's  name,  and 
ride  as  long  as  you  will.     Get  in  behind." 

*'  Are  there  many  people  in  there  already  ? "  said  I,  as  I 
climbed  up,  and  Timothy  handed  me  the  bundles. 

"  Noa,"  replied  the  wagoner,  "  there  be  nobody  but  a 
mighty  clever  poticary  or  doctor,  I  can't  tell  which ;  but 
he  wear  an  uncommon  queer  hat,  and  he  talk  all  sort  of 
doctor  stuff — and  there  be  his  odd  man  and  his  odd  boy ; 
that  be  all,  and  there  be  plenty  of  room,  and  plenty  o' 
clean  strc^P 

After  this  intimation  we  climbed  up,  and  gained  a 
situation  in  the  rear  of  the  wagon  under  the  cloth.  As 
the  wagoner  said,  there  was  plenty  of  room,  and  we 
nestled  into  the  straw  without  coming  into  contact  with 
the  other  travellers.  Not  feeling  any  inclination  to  sleep, 
Timothy  and  I  entered  into  conversation,  sotto  voce,  and 
had  continued  for  more  than  half  an  hour,  supposing  by 
their  silence  that  the  other  occupants  of  the  wagon  were 
asleep,  when  we  were  interrupted  by  a  voice  clear  and 
sonorous  as  a  bell. 

"  It  would  appear  that  you  are  wanderers,  young  men, 
and  journey  you  know  not  whither.  Birds  seek  their  nests 
when  the  night  falls — beasts  hasten  to  their  lairs — man 
bolts  his  door.  *  Propria  qua  marihus^  as  Herodotus  hath 
it ;  which,  when  translated,  means,  that  *  such  is  the  nature 
of  mankind.'  *  Trihuuntiir  mascula  dicas,  *  Tell  me  your 
troubles,'  as  Homer  says." 

I  was  very  much  surprised  at  this  address — my  know- 
ledge of  the  language  told  me  immediately  that  the 
quotations  were  out  of  the  Latin  grammar,  and  that  all 
his  learning  was  pretence  ;  still  there  was  a  novelty  of 
style  which  amused  me,  and  at  the  same  time  gave  me  an 


Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father  45 

idea  that  the  speaker  was  an  uncommon  personage.  I  gave 
Timothy  a  nudge,  and  then  repUed, 

**  You  have  guessed  right,  most  learned  sir  ;  we  are,  as 
you  say,  wanderers  seeking  our  fortunes,  and  trust  yet 
to  find  them — still  we  have  a  weary  journey  before  us, 

*  Haustus  hord  somni  sumendum^  as  Aristotle  hath  it ;  which 
I  need  not  translate  to  so  learned  a  person  as  yourself." 

"  Nay,  indeed,  there  is  no  occasion ;  yet  am  I  pleased  to 
meet  with  one  who  hath  scholarship,"  replied  the  other. 
"  Have  you  also  a  knowledge  of  the  Greek  ? " 

"  No,  I  pretend  not  to  Greek." 

"It  is  a  pity  that  thou  hast  it  not,  for  thou  wouldst 
delight  to  commune  with  the  ancients.  Esculapius  hath 
these  words  —  *  K^holdi^x  —  ofFmotton  —  ^^rapon  —  pasti — 
venison,' — which  I  will  translate  for  thee — *  We  often  find 
what  we  seek,  when  we  least  expect  it.'  May  it  be  so 
with  you,  my  friend.  Where  have  you  been  educated? 
and  what  has  been  your  profession  ? " 

I  thought  I  risked  little  in  telling,  so  I  replied,  that  I 
had  been  brought  up  as  a  surgeon  and  apothecary,  and 
had  been  educated  at  a  foundation  school. 

"  'Tis  well,"  replied  he ;  "  you  have  then  commenced 
your  studies  in  my  glorious  profession  ;  still,  have  you 
much  to  learn ;  years  of  toil,  under  a  great  master,  can 
only  enable  you  to  benefit  mankind  as  I  have  done,  and 
years  of  hardship  and  of  danger  must  be  added  thereunto, 
to  afford  you  the  means.     There  are  many  hidden  secrets. 

*  Ut  sunt  Divorum,  Mars,  Bacchus,  Apollo,  Virorum^ — many 
parts  of  the  globe  to  traverse,  ^Ut  Cato,  Virgilius,jluviorurn, 
ut  T'lhris,  Orontes^  All  these  have  I  visited,  and  many 
more.  Even  now  do  I  journey  to  obtain  more  of  my 
invaluable  medicine,  gathered  on  the  highest  Andes,  when 
the  moon  is  in  her  perigee.  There  I  shall  remain  for 
months  among  the  clouds,  looking  down  upon  the  great 
plain  of  Mexico,  which  shall  appear  no  larger  than  the 
head   of  a  pin,  where  the  voice   of  man   is   heard  not. 

*  VocitOy  vocitas  vocitavi^  bending  for  months  towards  the 
earth.     *  As  in  presently  suffering  with  the  cold — ''frico 


46  Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father 

quodfricui  dat^  as  Eusebius  hath  it.  Soon  shall  I  be  borne 
away  by  the  howling  winds  towards  the  new  world,  where 
I  can  obtain  more  of  the  wonderful  medicine,  which  I  may 
say  never  yet  hath  failed  me,  and  which  nothing  but  love 
towards  my  race  induces  me  to  gather  at  such  pains  and 
risk." 

**  Indeed,  sir,"  replied  I,  amused  with  his  imposition, 
"  I  should  like  to  accompany  you — for,  as  Josephus  says 
most  truly,  *  Capiat  pillule  du£  post  prandium^  Travel  is, 
indeed,  a  most  delightful  occupation,  and  I  would  like  to 
run  over  the  whole  world." 

"  And  I  would  like  to  follow  you,"  interrupted  Timothy. 
"  I  suspect  we  have  commenced  our  grand  tour  already — 
three  miles  behind  a  hackney-coach — ten  on  foot,  and  about 
two,  I  should  think,  in  this  wagon.  But  as  Cophagus  says, 
Cochlearija  crash  many  summendush^  which  means,  *  there  are 
ups  and  downs  in  this  world.' " 

"  Hah  !  "  exclaimed  our  companion.  "  He,  also,  has  the 
rudiments." 

"Nay,  I  hope  I've  done  with  the  Rudimans*'^  replied 
Timothy. 

"Is  he  your  follower  ? "  inquired  the  man. 

"  That  very  much  depends  upon  who  walks  first," 
replied  Timothy,  "  but  whether  or  no  —  we  hunt  in 
couples." 

"  I  understand — you  are  companions.  *  Concordat  cum 
nominativo  numero  et  personal  Tell  me,  can  you  roll  pills, 
can  you  use  the  pestle  and  the  mortar,  handle  the  scapula, 
and  mix  ingredients  ?  " 

I  replied  that  of  course  I  knew  my  profession. 

"  Well,  then,  as  we  have  still  some  hours  of  night,  let 
us  now  obtain  some  rest.  In  the  morning,  when  the  sun 
hath  introduced  us  to  each  other,  I  may  then  judge  from 
your  countenances  whether  it  is  likely  that  we  may  be 
better  acquainted.  Night  is  the  time  for  repose,  as 
Quintus  Curtius  says,  *  Custos,  bos,  fur  atque  sacerdos^ 
Sleep  was  made  for  all — my  friends,  good-night." 


Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father  47 


Chapter  IX 

In  which  the  adventures  in  the  wagon  are  continued,  and  we  become  more 
puzzled  with  our  new  companions — We  leave  off  talking  Latin,  and 
enter  into  an  engagement. 

Timothy  and  I  took  his  advice,  and  were  soon  fast  asleep. 
I  was  awakened  the  next  morning  by  feeling  a  hand  in  my 
trouser's  pocket.     I  seized  it,  and  held  it  fast. 

"  Now  just  let  go  my  hand,  will  you  ?  "  cried  a  lachrymal 
voice. 

I  jumped  up — it  was  broad  daylight,  and  looked  at  the 
human  frame  to  which  the  hand  was  an  appendix.  It  was 
a  very  spare,  awkwardly-built  form  of  a  young  man, 
apparently  about  twenty  years  old,  but  without  the  least 
sign  of  manhood  on  his  chin.  His  face  was  cadaverous, 
with  large  goggling  eyes,  high  cheek  bones,  hair  long  and 
ragged,  reminding  me  of  a  rat's  nest,  thin  lips,  and  ears 
large  almost  as  an  elephant's.  A  more  woe-begone  wretch 
in  appearance  I  never  beheld,  and  I  continued  to  look 
at  him  with  surprise.  He  repeated  his  words  with  an 
idiotical  expression,  "  Just  let  go  my  hand,  can't  you  ? " 

"  What  business  had  your  hand  in  my  pocket  ?  "  replied 
I,  angrily. 

**  I  was  feeling  for  my  pocket-handkerchief,"  replied 
the  young  man.  "  I  always  keeps  it  in  my  breeches' 
pocket." 

"  But  not  in  your  neighbour's,  I  presume  ? " 

"  My  neighbour's  !  "  replied  he,  with  a  vacant  stare. 
**  Well,  so  it  is,  I  see  now — I  thought  it  was  my  own." 

I  released  his  hand  ;  he  immediately  put  it  into  his  own 
pocket,  and  drew  out  his  handkerchief,  if  the  rag  deserved 
me  appellation.  "  There,"  said  he,  "  I  told  you  I  put  it 
in  that  pocket — I  always  do." 

"  And  pray  who  are  you  ? "  said  I,  as  I  looked  at  his 
dress,  which  was  a  pair  of  loose  white  Turkish  trousers, 
and  an  old  spangled  jacket. 


48  Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father 

"  Me  !  why,  I'm  the  fool." 

"  More  knave  than  fool,  I  expect,"  replied  I,  still  much 
puzzled  with  his  strange  appearance  and  dress. 

"  Nay,  there  you  mistake,"  said  the  voice  of  last  night. 
"  He  is  not  only  a  fool  by  profession,  but  one  by  nature. 
It  is  a  half-witted  creature,  who  serves  me  when  I  would 
attract  the  people  Strange  in  this  world,  that  wisdom 
may  cry  in  the  streets  without  being  noticed,  yet  folly  will 
always  command  a  crowd," 

During  this  address  I  turned  my  eyes  upon  the  speaker. 
He  was  an  elderly-looking  person,  with  white  hair,  dressed 
in  a  suit  of  black,  ruffles  and  frill.  His  eyes  were  brilliant, 
but  the  remainder  of  his  face  it  was  difficult  to  decipher, 
as  it  was  evidently  painted,  and  the  night's  jumbling  in  the 
wagon  had  so  smeared  it,  that  it  appeared  of  almost  every 
colour  in  the  rainbow.  On  one  side  of  him  lay  a  large 
three-cornered  cocked  hat,  on  the  other,  a  little  lump  of  a 
boy,  rolled  up  in  the  straw  like  a  marmot,  and  still  sound 
asleep.  Timothy  looked  at  me,  and  when  he  caught  my 
eye,  burst  out  into  a  laugh. 

**  You  laugh  at  my  appearance,  I  presume,"  said  the  old 
man,  mildly. 

"I  do  in  truth,"  replied  Timothy.  "  I  never  saw  one 
like  you  before,  and  I  dare  say  never  shall  again." 

"  That  is  possible  ;  yet  probably  if  you  meet  me  again, 
you  would  not  know  me." 

"  Among  a  hundred  thousand,"  replied  Timothy,  with 
increased  mirth. 

"We  shall  see,  perhaps,"  replied  the  quack  doctor, 
for  such  the  reader  must  have  already  ascertained  to  be 
his  profession ;  "  but  the  wagon  has  stopped,  and  the 
driver  will  bait  his  horses.  If  inclined  to  eat,  now  is 
your  time.  Come,  Jumbo,  get  up  ;  Philotas,  waken  him, 
and  follow  me." 

Philotas,  for  so  was  the  fool  styled  by  his  master, 
twisted  up  some  straw,  and  stuffed  the  end  of  it  into 
Jumbo's  mouth.  "  Now,  Jumbo  will  think  he  has  got 
something  to  eat.  I  always  wake  him  that  way,"  observed 
the  fool,  grinning  at  us. 


Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father  49 

It  certainly,  as  might  be  expected,  did  waken  Jumbo, 
who  uncoiled  himself,  rubbed  his  eyes,  stared  at  the  tilt 
of  the  wagon,  then  at  us,  and  without  saying  a  word, 
rolled  himself  out  after  the  fool.  Timothy  and  I  followed. 
We  found  the  doctor  bargaining  for  some  bread  and 
bacon,  his  strange  appearance  exciting  much  amusement, 
and  inducing  the  people  to  let  him  have  a  better  bargain 
than  perhaps  otherwise  they  would  have  done.  He  gave 
a  part  of  the  refreshment  to  the  boy  and  the  fool,  and 
walked  out  of  the  tap-room  with  his  own  share.  Timothy 
and  I  went  to  the  pump,  and  had  a  good  refreshing  wash, 
and  then  for  a  shilling  were  permitted  to  make  a  very 
hearty  breakfast.  The  wagon  having  remained  about  an 
hour,  the  driver  gave  us  notice  of  his  departure  ;  but  the 
doctor  was  no  where  to  be  found.  After  a  little  delay, 
the  wagoner  drove  off,  cursing  him  for  a  bilk,  and  vowing 
that  he'd  never  have  any  more  to  do  with  a  "  larned  man." 
In  the  mean  time,  Timothy  and  I  had  taken  our  seats  in 
the  wagon,  in  company  with  the  fool,  and  Master  Jumbo. 
We  commenced  a  conversation  with  the  former,  and  soon 
found  out,  as  the  doctor  had  asserted,  that  he  really  was 
an  idiot,  so  much  so,  that  it  was  painful  to  converse  with 
him.  As  for  the  latter,  he  had  coiled  himself  away  to 
take  a  little  more  sleep.  I  forgot  to  mention,  that  the  boy 
was  dressed  much  in  the  same  way  as  the  fool,  in  an  old 
spangled  jacket,  and  dirty  white  trousers.  For  about  an 
hour  Timothy  and  I  conversed,  remarking  upon  the 
strange  disappearance  of  the  doctor,  especially  as  he  had 
given  us  hopes  of  employing  us  •,  in  accepting  which  oiFer, 
if  ever  it  should  be  made,  we  had  not  made  up  our  minds, 
when  we  were  interrupted  with  a  voice  crying  out, 
"  Hillo,  my  man,  can  you  give  a  chap  a  lift  as  far  as 
Reading,  for  a  shilling  ? " 

**  Ay,  get  up,  and  welcome,"  replied  the  wagoner. 

The  wagon  did  not  stop,  but  in  a  moment  or  two 
the  new  passenger  climbed  in.  He  was  dressed  in  a  clean 
smock  frock,  neatly  worked  up  the  front,  leather  gaiters, 
and  stout  shoes  ;  a  bundle  and  a  stick  were  in  his  hand. 

F  D 


50  Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father 

He  smiled  as  he  looked  round  upon  the  company,  and 
showed  a  beautiful  set  of  teeth.  His  face  was  dark,  and 
sun-burnt,  but  very  handsome,  and  his  eyes  as  black 
as  coals,  and  as  brilliant  as  gas.  "  Heh  !  player  folk — 
Fve  a  notion,"  said  he,  as  he  sat  down,  looking  at  the 
doctor's  attendants,  and  laughing  at  us.  "  Have  you  come 
far,  gentlemen  ? "  continued  he. 

"  From  London,"  was  my  reply. 

**  How  do  the  crops  look  up  above,  for  down  here  the 
turnips  seem  to  have  failed  altogether  ?  Dry  seasons  won't 
do  for  turnips." 

I  replied  that  I  really  could  not  satisfy  him  on  that 
point,  as  it  was  dark  when  we  passed. 

"Very  true  —  I  had  forgotten  that,"  replied  he. 
**  However,  the  barleys  look  well ;  but  perhaps  you  don't 
understand  farming  ? " 

I  replied  in  the  negative,  and  the  conversation  was  kept 
up  for  two  or  three  hours,  in  the  course  of  which  I 
mentioned  the  quack  doctor,  and  his  strange  departure. 

"  That    is    the    fellow    who    cured    so    many   people 

at ,"  replied  he ;   and  the   conversation  then  turned 

upon  his  profession  and  mode  of  life,  which  Timothy  and 
I  agreed  must  be  very  amusing.  **We  shall  meet  him 
again,  I  dare  say,"  replied  the  man.  "  Would  you  know 
him?" 

"  I  think  so,  indeed,"  replied  Timothy,  laughing. 

**  Yes,  and  so  you  would  think  that  you  would  know 
a  guinea  from  a  halfpenny,  if  I  put  it  into  your  hands," 
replied  the  man.  **  I  do  not  wish  to  lay  a  bet,  and  win 
your  money ;  but  I  tell  you,  that  I  will  put  either  the  one 
or  the  other  into  each  of  your  hands,  and  if  you  hold  it 
fast  for  one  minute,  and  shut  your  eyes  during  that  time, 
you  will  not  be  able  to  tell  me  which  it  is  that  you  have 
in  it." 

"  That  I  am  sure  I  would,"  replied  Tim ;  and  I  made 
the  same  assertion. 

"  Well,  I  was  taken  in  that  way  at  a  fair,  and  lost  ten 
shillings  by  the  wager  j  now,  we'll  try  whether  you  can 


Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father  51 

tell  or  not."  He  took  out  some  money  from  his  pocket, 
which  he  selected  without  our  seeing  it,  put  a  coin  into 
the  hand  of  each  of  us,  closing  our  fists  over  it,  **  and 
now,"  said  he,  "  keep  your  eyes  shut  for  a  minute." 

We  did  so,  and  a  second  or  two  afterwards  we  heard 
a  voice  which  we  instantly  recognised.  **  Nay,  but  it  was 
wrong  to  leave  me  on  the  way  side  thus,  having  agreed  to 
pay  the  sum  demanded.  At  my  age  one  walketh  not 
without  fatigue,  Excipenda  tatnen  quadam  sunt  urhium^ 
as  Philostratus  says,  meaning,  *  that  old  limbs  lose  their 
activity,  and  seek  the  help  of  a  crutch.' " 

"  There's  the  doctor,"  cried  Timothy,  with  his  eyes 
still  shut. 

"  Now  open  your  eyes,"  said  the  man,  "  and  tell 
me,  before  you  open  your  hand,  what  there  is  in  it." 

"  A  halfpenny  in  mine,"  said  Tim. 

"  A  guinea  in  mine,"  replied  I. 

"We  opened  our  hands,  and  they  were  empty 

"■  Where  the  devil  is  it  ? "  exclaimed  I,  looking  at  Tim. 

''And  where  the  devil's  the  doctor?"  replied  he, 
looking  round. 

''  The  money  is  in  the  doctor's  pocket,"  replied  the  man, 
smiling. 

"  Then  where  is  the  doctor's  pocket  ?  " 

"  Here,"  replied  he,  slapping  his  pocket,  and  looking 
significantly  at  us.  "  I  thought  you  were  certain  of  know- 
ing him  again.  About  as  certain  as  you  were  of  telling 
the  money  in  your  hand." 

He  then,  to  our  astonishment,  imitated  the  doctor's 
voice,  and  c\\iotedi  prosody  syntax,  and  Latin.  Timothy  and 
I  were  still  in  astonishment,  when  he  continued,  "  If  I  had 
not  found  out  that  you  were  in  want  of  employ,  and 
further,  that  your  services  would  be  useful  to  me,  I  should 
not  have  made  this  discovery.  Do  you  now  think  that 
you  know  enough  to  enter  into  my  service .?  It  is  light 
work,  and  not  bad  pay  ;  and  now  you  may  choose." 

"  I  trust,"  said  I,  "  that  there  is  no  dishonesty  ?" 

"  None  that  you  need  practise,  if  you  are  so  scrupulous  ; 


52  Japhet,  m  Search  of  a  Father 

perhaps  your  scruples  may  some  day  be  removed,  I  make 
the  most  of  my  wares — every  merchant  does  the  same.  I 
practise  upon  the  folly  of  mankind — it  is  on  that,  that  wise 
men  live." 

Timothy  gave  me  a  push,  and  nodded  his  head  for  me 
to  give  my  consent.  I  reflected  a  few  seconds,  and  at  last 
I  extended  my  hand.  "  I  consent,"  replied  I,  "  with  the 
reservation  I  have  made." 

"  You  will  not  repent,"  said  he  ;  "  and  I  will  take  your 
companion,  not  that  I  want  him  particularly,  but  I  do  want 
you.  The  fact  is,  I  want  a  lad  of  gentlemanly  address, 
and  handsome  appearance — with  the  very  knowledge  you 
possess — and  now  we  will  say  no  more  for  the  present. 
By-the-bye,  was  that  real  Latin  of  yours  ? " 

"  No,"  replied  I,  laughing  j  "  you  quoted  the  grammar, 
and  I  replied  with  medical  prescriptions.  One  was  as 
good  as  the  other." 

"  Quite — nay,  better ;  for  the  school-boys  may  find  me 
out,  but  not  you.  But  now  observe,  when  we  come  to 
the  next  cross  road,  we  must  get  down — at  least,  I  expect 
so  ;  but  we  shall  know  in  a  minute." 

In  about  the  time  he  mentioned,  a  dark,  gipsy-looking 
man  looked  into  the  wagon,  and  spoke  to  our  acquaintance 
in  an  unknown  language.  He  replied  in  the  same,  and  the 
man  disappeared.  We  continued  our  route  for  about  a 
quarter  of  an  hour,  when  he  got  out,  asked  us  to  follow 
him,  and  speaking  a  few  words  to  the  fool,  which  I  did 
not  hear,  left  him  and  the  boy  in  the  wagon.  We  paid 
.our  fare,  took  possession  of  our  bundles,  and  followed  our 
new  companion  for  a  few  minutes  on  the  cross  road,  when 
he  stopped,  and  said,  **I  must  now  leave  you,  to  prepare 
for  your  reception  into  our  fraternity ;  continue  straight  on 
this  road  until  you  arrive  at  a  lime-kiln,  and  wait  there  till 
I  come." 

He  sprang  over  a  stile,  and  took  a  direction  verging  at 
an  angle  from  the  road,  forced  his  way  through  a  hedge, 
and  disappeared  from  our  sight.  "  Upon  my  word, 
Timothy,"  said  I,  "  I  hardly  know  what  to  say  to  this. 


Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father  ^^ 

Have  we  done  right  in  trusting  to  this  man,  who,  I  am 
afraid  !  is  a  great  rogue  ?  I  do  not  much  hke  mixing 
with  these  gipsy  people,  for  such  I  am  sure  he  belongs  to." 

"  I  really  do  not  see  how  we  can  do  better,"  replied 
Timothy.  "  The  world  is  all  before  us,  and  we  must 
force  our  own  way  through  it.  As  for  his  being  a  quack 
doctor,  I  see  no  great  harm  in  that.  People  put  their 
faith  in  nostrums  more  than  they  do  in  regular  medicines  ; 
and  it  is  well  known  that  quack  medicines,  as  they  call 
them,  cure  as  often  as  others,  merely  for  that  very  reason." 

"Very  true,  Timothy;  the  mind  once  at  ease,  the  body 
soon  recovers,  and  faith,  even  in  quack  medicines,  will 
often  make  people  whole ;  but  do  you  think  that  he  does 
no  more  than  impose  upon  people  in  that  way  ? " 

**  He  may,  or  he  may  not ;  at  all  events,  we  need  do  no 
more,  I  suppose." 

^*  I  am  not  sure  of  that ;  however,  we  shall  see.  He 
says  we  may  be  useful  to  him,  and  I  suppose  we  shall  be, 
or  he  would  not  have  engaged  us — we  shall  soon  find  out." 


Chapter    X 

In  which  the  reader  is  introduced  to  several  new  acquaintances,  and  all  con- 
nected  with  them,  except  birth  and  parentage,  which  appears  to  be  the 
one  thing  wanting  throughout  the  whole  of  this  work. 

By  this  time  we  had  arrived  at  the  lime-kiln  to  which  we 
had  been  directed,  and  we  sat  down  on  our  bundles, 
chatting  for  about  five  minutes,  when  our  new  acquaint- 
ance made  his  appearance,  with  something  in  his  hand,  tied 
up  in  a  handkerchief. 

"  You  may  as  well  put  your  coats  into  your  bundles, 
and  put  on  these  frocks,"  said  he,  **  you  will  appear  better 
among  us,  and  be  better  received,  for  there  is  a  gathering 
now,  and  some  of  them  are  queer  customers.  However, 
you  have  nothing  to  fear  •,  when  once  you  are  with  my 


54  Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father 

wife  and  me,  you  are  quite  safe  ;  her  little  finger  would 
protect  you  from  five  hundred." 

"  Your  wife  !  who,  then,  is  she  ?  "  inquired  I,  as  I  put 
my  head  through  the  smock  frock. 

"  She  is  a  great  personage  among  the  gipsies.  She  is, 
by  descent,  one  of  the  heads  of  the  tribe,  and  none  dare  to 
disobey  her." 

"  And  you — are  you  a  gipsy  ? " 

"  No,  and  yes.  By  birth  I  am  not,  but  by  choice,  and 
marriage,  I  am  admitted;  but  I  was  not  born  under  a 
hedge,  I  can  assure  you,  although  I  very  often  pass  a  night 
there  now — that  is,  when  I  am  domestic ;  but  do  not  think 
that  you  are  to  remain  long  here ;  we  shall  leave  in  a  few 
days,  and  may  not  meet  the  tribe  again  for  months, 
although  you  may  see  my  own  family  occasionally.  I  did 
not  ask  you  to  join  me  to  pass  a  gipsy's  life — no,  no,  we 
must  be  stirring  and  active.  Come,  we  are  now  close  to 
them.  Do  not  speak  as  you  pass  the  huts,  until  you  have 
entered  mine.     Then  you  may  do  as  you  please." 

We  turned  short  round,  passed  through  a  gap  in  the 
hedge,  and  found  ourselves  on  a  small  retired  piece  of 
common,  which  was  studded  with  about  twenty  or  thirty 
low  gipsy  huts.  The  fires  were  alight  and  provisions 
apparently  cooking.  "We  passed  by  nine  or  ten,  and 
obeyed  our  guide's  injunctions,  to  keep  silence.  At  last 
we  stopped,  and  perceived  ourselves  to  be  standing  by  the 
fool,  who  was  dressed  like  us,  in  a  smock  frock,  and  Mr 
Jumbo,  who  was  very  busy  making  the  pot  boil,  blowing 
at  the  sticks  underneath  till  he  was  black  in  the  face. 
Several  of  the  men  passed  near  us,  and  examined  us  with 
no  very  pleasant  expression  of  countenance ;  and  we  were 
not  sorry  to  see  our  conductor,  who  had  gone  into  the 
hut,  return,  followed  by  a  woman,  to  whom  he  was 
speaking  in  the  language  of  the  tribe.  "  Nattee  bids  you 
welcome,"  said  he,  as  she  approached. 

Never  in  my  life  will  the  remembrance  of  the  first 
appearance  of  Nattee,  and  the  effect  it  had  upon  me,  be 
erased  from  my  memory.     She  was  tall,  too  tall,  had  it 


Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father  ^^ 

not  been  for  the  perfect  symmetry  of  her  form.  Her  face 
of  a  clear  olive,  and  oval  in  shape ;  her  eyes  jetty  black ; 
nose  straight,  and  beautifully  formed;  mouth  small,  thin 
lips,  with  a  slight  curl  of  disdain,  and  pearly  teeth.  I 
never  beheld  a  woman  of  so  commanding  a  presence. 
Her  feet  were  bare,  but  very  small,  as  well  as  her  hands. 
On  her  fingers  she  wore  many  rings,  of  a  curious  old 
setting,  and  a  piece  of  gold  hung  on  her  forehead,  where 
the  hair  was  parted.  She  looked  at  us,  touched  her  high 
forehead  with  the  ends  of  her  fingers,  and  waving  her 
hand  gracefully,  said,  in  a  soft  voice,  **  You  are  welcome," 
and  then  turned  to  her  husband,  speaking  to  him  in  her 
own  language,  until  by  degrees  they  separated  from  us  in 
earnest  conversation. 

She  returned  to  us  after  a  short  time,  without  her 
husband,  and  said,  in  a  voice,  the  notes  of  which  were 
indeed  soft,  but  the  delivery  of  the  words  was  most 
determined;  "I  have  said  that  you  are  welcome;  sit 
down,  therefore,  and  share  with  us — fear  nothing,  you 
have  no  cause  to  fear.  Be  faithful,  then,  while  you  serve 
him,  and  when  you  would  quit  us,  say  so,  and  receive 
your  leave  to  depart;  but  if  you  attempt  to  desert  us 
without  permission,  then  we  shall  suspect  that  you  are 
our  enemies,  and  treat  you  accordingly.  There  is  your 
lodging  while  here,'*  continued  she,  pointing  to  another 
hut.  "  There  is  but  one  child  with  you,  this  boy 
(pointing  to  Jumbo),  who  can  lay  at  your  feet.  And  now 
join  us  as  friends.     Fleta,  where  are  you  ? " 

A  soft  voice  answered  from  the  tent  of  Nattee,  and 
soon  afterwards  came  out  a  little  girl,  of  about  eleven 
years  old.  The  appearance  of  this  child  was  a  new  source 
of  interest.  She  was  a  little  fairy  figure,  with  a  skin  as 
white  as  the  driven  snow — light  auburn  hair,  and  large 
blue  eyes ;  her  dress  was  scanty,  and  showed  a  large 
portion  of  her  taper  legs.  She  hastened  to  Nattee,  and 
folding  her  arms  across  her  breast,  stood  still,  saying 
meekly,  "  I  am  here." 

"  Know  these  as  friends,  Fleta.     Send  that  lazy  Num 


^6  Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father 

(this  was  Philotas,  the  fool),  for  more  wood,  and  see 
that  Jumbo  tends  the  fire." 

Nattee  smiled,  and  left  us.  I  observed  she .  went  to 
where  forty  or  fifty  of  the  tribe  were  assembled,  in 
earnest  discourse.  She  took  her  seat  with  them,  and 
marked  deference  was  paid  to  her.  In  the  meantime 
Jumbo  had  blown  up  a  brisk  fire  ;  we  were  employed 
by  Fleta  in  shredding  vegetables,  which  she  threw  into 
the  boiling  kettle.  Num  appeared  with  more  fuel,  and 
at  last  there  was  nothing  more  to  do.  Fleta  sat  down 
by  us,  and  parting  her  long  hair,  which  had  fallen  over 
her  eyes,  looked  us  both  in  the  face. 

"  Who  gave  you  that  name,  Fleta  ?  "  inquired  I 

"  They  gave  it  me,"  replied  she. 

"  And  who  are  they  ?  " 

"  Nattee,  and  Melchior,  her  husband." 

"  But  you  are  not  their  daughter  ? " 

"  No,  I  am  not — that  is,  I  believe  not." 

The  little  girl  stopped  short,  as  if  assured  that  she  had  said 
too  much,  cast  her  eyes  down  on  the  ground,  and  folded 
her  arms,  so  that  her  hands  rested  on  each  opposite  shoulder. 

Timothy  whispered  to  me,  "  She  must  have  been  stolen, 
depend  upon  it." 

"  Silence,"  said  I. 

The  little  girl  overheard  him,  and  looking  at  him,  put 
her  finger  across  her  mouth,  looking  to  where  Num  and 
Jumbo  were  sitting.  I  felt  an  interest  for  this  child  before 
I  had  been  an  hour  in  her  company ;  she  was  so  graceful, 
so  feminine,  so  mournful  in  the  expression  of  her  counten- 
ance. That  she  was  under  restraint  was  evident ;  but 
still  she  did  not  appear  to  be  actuated  by  fear.  Nattee 
was  very  kind  to  her,  and  the  child  did  not  seem  to  be 
more  reserved  towards  her  than  to  others ;  her  mournful 
pensive  look,  was  perhaps  inherent  to  her  nature.  It  was 
not  until  long  after  our  first  acquaintance  that  I  ever  saw 
a  smile  upon  her  features.  Shortly  after  this  little  con- 
versation Nattee  returned,  walking  with  all  the  grace  and 
dignity  of  a  queen.     Her  husband,  or  Melchior,  as  I  shall 


Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father  z^'j 

in  future  call  him,  soon  joined  us,  and  we  sat  down  to  our 
repast,  which  was  excellent.  It  was  composed  of  almost 
every  thing ;  sometimes  I  found  myself  busy  with  the  wing 
of  a  fowl,  at  another  the  leg  of  a  rabbit — then  a  piece 
of  mutton,  or  other  flesh  and  fowl,  which  I  could  hardly 
distinguish.  To  these  were  added  every  sort  of  vegetable, 
among  which  potatoes  predominated,  forming  a  sort  of  stew, 
which  an  epicure  might  have  praised.  I  had  a  long  con- 
versation with  Melchior  in  the  evening,  and,  not  to  weary 
the  reader,  I  shall  now  proceed  to  state  all  that  I  then  and 
subsequently  gathered  from  him  and  others,  relative  to  the 
parties  with  whom  we  were  associating. 

Melchior  would  not  state  who  and  what  he  was  previous 
to  his  having  joined  the  fraternity  of  gipsies  ;  that  he  was 
not  of  humble  birth,  and  that  he  had,  when  young,  quitted 
his  friends  out  of  love  for  Nattee,  or  from  some  other 
causes  not  to  be  revealed,  he  led  me  to  surmise.  He  had 
been  many  years  in  company  with  the  tribe,  and  although, 
as  one  received  into  it,  he  did  not  stand  so  high  in  rank 
and  estimation  as  his  wife,  still,  from  his  marriage  with 
Nattee,  and  his  own  peculiar  qualifications  and  dexterity, 
he  was  almost  as  absolute  as  she  was. 

Melchior  and  Nattee  were  supposed  to  be  the  most 
wealthy  of  all  the  gipsies,  and,  at  the  same  time,  they  were 
the  most  liberal  of  their  wealth.  Melchior,  it  appeared, 
gained  money  in  three  different  characters ;  as  a  quack 
doctor,  the  character  in  which  we  first  saw  him  j  secondly, 
as  a  juggler,  in  which  art  he  was  most  expert  \  and  thirdly, 
as  a  fortune-teller,  and  ivise  man, 

Nattee,  as  I  before  mentioned,  was  of  very  high  rank, 
or  caste,  in  her  tribe.  At  her  first  espousal  of  Melchior 
she  lost  much  of  her  influence,  as  it  was  considered  a 
degradation  j  but  she  was  then  very  young,  and  must  have 
been  most  beautiful.  The  talents  of  Melchior,  and  her 
own  spirit,  however,  soon  enabled  her  to  regain,  and  even 
add  still  more  to,  her  power  and  consideration  among  the 
tribe,  and  it  was  incredible  to  what  extent,  with  the  means 
which  she  possessed,  this  power  was  augmented. 


58  Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father 

Melchior  had  no  children  by  his  marriage,  and,  as  far  as 
I  could  judge  from  the  few  words  which  would  escape 
from  the  lips  of  Nattee,  she  did  not  wish  for  any,  as  the 
race  would  not  be  considered  pure.  The  subdivision  of 
the  tribe  which  followed  Nattee,  consisted  of  about  forty, 
men,  women,  and  children.  These  were  ruled  by  her 
during  the  absence  of  her  husband,  who  alternately 
assumed  different  characters,  as  suited  his  purpose ;  but  in 
whatever  town  Melchior  might  happen  to  be,  Nattee  and 
her  tribe  were  never  far  off,  and  always  encamped  within 
communication. 

I  ventured  to  question  Melchior  about  the  little  Fleta  5 
and  he  stated  that  she  was  the  child  of  a  soldier's  wife, 
who  had  been  brought  to  bed,  and  died  a  few  hours  after- 
wards ;  that,  at  the  time,  she  was  on  her  way  to  join  her 
husband,  and  had  been  taken  ill  on  the  road — had  been 
assisted  by  Nattee  and  her  companions,  as  far  as  they  were 
able — had  been  buried  by  them,  and  that  the  child  had  been 
reared  in  the  camp. 

In  time,  the  little  girl  became  very  intimate,  and  very 
partial  to  me.  I  questioned  her  as  to  her  birth,  telling  her 
what  Melchior  had  stated ;  for  a  long  while  she  would  not 
answer ;  the  poor  child  had  learned  caution  even  at  that 
early  age ;  but  after  we  were  more  intimate,  she  said,  that 
which  Melchior  had  stated  was  not  true.  She  could 
recollect  very  well  living  in  a  great  house,  with  everything 
very  fine  about  her  ;  but  still  it  appeared  as  if  it  were  a 
dream.  She  recollected  two  white  ponies — and  a  lady 
who  was  her  mamma — and  a  mulberry-tree,  where  she 
stained  her  frock ;  sometimes  other  things  came  to  her 
memory,  and  then  she  forgot  them  again.  From  this  it 
was  evident  that  she  had  been  stolen,  and  was  probably  of 
good  parentage ;  certainly,  if  elegance  and  symmetry  of 
person  and  form,  could  prove  blood,  it  never  was  more 
marked  than  in  this  interesting  child.  Her  abode  with  the 
gipsies,  and  their  peculiar  mode  of  life  and  manners,  had 
rendered  her  astonishingly  precocious  in  intellect ;  but  of 
education  she  had  none,  except  what  was  instilled  into  her 


Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father  59 

by  Melchlor,  whom  she  always  accompanied  when  he 
assumed  his  character  as  a  juggler.  She  then  danced  on 
the  slack  wire,  at  the  same  time  performing  several  feats 
in  balancing,  throwing  of  oranges,  &c.  When  Melchior 
was  under  other  disguises,  she  remained  in  the  camp  with 
Nattee. 

Of  Num,  or  Philotas,  as  Melchior  thought  proper  to 
call  him,  I  have  already  spoken.  He  was  a  half-witted 
idiot,  picked  up  in  one  of  Melchior's  excursions,  and  as  he 
stated  to  me,  so  did  it  prove  to  be  the  fact,  that  when  on 
the  stage,  and  questioned  as  a  fool,  his  natural  folly,  and 
idiotical  vacancy  of  countenance,  were  applauded  by  the 
spectators  as  admirably  assumed.  Even  at  the  alehouses 
and  taverns  where  we  stopped,  every  one  imagined  that 
all  his  folly  was  pretence,  and  looked  upon  him  as  a  very 
clever  fellow.  There  never  was,  perhaps,  such  a  lachry- 
mose countenance  as  this  poor  lad's,  and  this  added  still 
more  to  the  mirth  of  others,  being  also  considered  as  put 
on  for  the  occasion.  Stephen  Kemble  played  FalstafF 
without  stuffing — Num  played  the  fool  without  any  effort 
or  preparation.  Jumbo  was  also  "  picked  up  ; "  this  was 
not  done  by  Melchior,  who  stated,  that  any  body  might 
have  him  who  claimed  him ;  he  tumbled  with  the  fool 
upon  the  stage,  and  he  also  ate  pudding  to  amuse  the 
spectators — the  only  part  of  the  performance  which  was 
suited  to  Jumbo's  taste,  for  he  was  a  terrible  little  glutton, 
and  never  lost  any  opportunity  of  eating,  as  well  as  of 
sleeping. 

And  now,  having  described  all  our  new  companions,  I 
must  narrate  what  passed  between  Melchior  and  me,  the 
day  after  our  joining  the  camp.  He  first  ran  through  his 
various  professions,  pointing  out  to  me  that  as  juggler  he 
required  a  confederate,  in  which  capacity  I  might  be  very 
useful,  as  he  would  soon  instruct  me  in  all  his  tricks.  As 
a  quack  doctor  he  wanted  the  services  of  both  Tim  and 
myself  in  mixing  up,  making  pills,  &c.,  and  also  in  assisting 
him  in  persuading  the  public  of  his  great  skill.  As  a 
fortune-teller,   I   should  also  be  of  great   service,  as  he 


6o  Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father 

would  explain  to  me  hereafter.  In  short,  he  wanted  a 
person  of  good  personal  appearance  and  education,  in 
whom  he  might  confide  in  every  way.  As  to  Tim,  he 
might  be  made  useful  if  he  chose,  in  various  ways ; 
amongst  others,  he  wished  him  to  learn  tumbling  and 
playing  the  fool,  when,  at  times,  the  fool  was  required  to 
give  a  shrewd  answer  on  any  point  on  which  he  would 
wish  the  public  to  be  made  acquainted.  I  agreed  to  my 
own  part  of  the  performance,  and  then  had  some  conver- 
sation with  Timothy,  who  immediately  consented  to  do  his 
best  in  what  was  allotted  as  his  share.  Thus  was  the 
matter  quickly  arranged,  Melchior  observing,  that  he  had 
said  nothing  about  remuneration,  as  I  should  find  that 
trusting  to  him  was  far  preferable  to  stipulated  wages. 


Chapter  XI 

Whatever  may  be  the  opinion  ot  the  reader,  he  cannot  assert  that  we  are 
no  conjurers — We  suit  our  wares  to  our  customers,  and  our  profits  are 
considerable. 

We  had  been  three  days  in  the  camp  when  the  gathering 
was  broken  up,  each  gang  taking  their  own  way.  What 
the  meeting  was  about  I  could  not  exactly  discover ;  one 
occasion  of  it  was  to  make  arrangements  relative  to  the 
different  counties  in  which  the  subdivisions  were  to  sojourn 
during  the  next  year,  so  that  they  might  know  where  to 
communicate  with  each  other,  and,  at  the  same  time,  not 
interfere  by  being  too  near;  but  there  were  many  other 
points  discussed,  of  which,  as  a  stranger,  I  was  kept  in 
ignorance.  Melchior  answered  all  my  questions  with 
apparent  candour,  but  his  habitual  deceit  was  such,  that 
whether  he  told  the  truth  or  not  was  impossible  to  be 
ascertained  by  his  countenance. 

When  the  gathering  dispersed  we  packed  up,  and 
located  ourselves  about  two  miles  from  the  common,  on 
the  borders  of  a  forest  of  oak  and  ash.     Our  food  was 


Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father  61 

chiefly  game,  for  we  had  some  excellent  poachers  among 
us  ;  and  as  for  fish,  it  appeared  to  be  at  their  command ; 
there  was  not  a  pond  nor  a  pit  but  they  could  tell  in  a 
moment  if  it  were  tenanted,  and  if  tenanted,  in  half  an 
hour  every  fish  would  be  floating  on  the  top  of  the  water, 
by  the  throwing  in  of  some  intoxicating  sort  of  berry  ; 
other  articles  of  food  occasionally  were  found  in  the 
caldron ;  indeed,  it  was  impossible  to  fare  better  than  we 
did,  or  at  less  expense. 

Our  tents  were  generally  pitched  not  far  from  a  pool  of 
water,  and  to  avoid  any  unpleasant  search,  which  some- 
times would  take  place,  everything  liable  to  detection  was 
sunk  under  the  water  until  it  was  required  for  cooking ; 
once  in  the  pot,  it  was  considered  as  safe.  But  with  the 
foraging,  Timothy  and  I  had  nothing  to  do ;  we  partici- 
pated in  the  eating,  without  asking  any  questions  as  to 
how  it  was  procured. 

My  time  was  chiefly  spent  in  company  with  Melchior, 
who  initiated  me  into  all  the  mysteries  of  cups  and  balls — 
juggling  of  every  description — feats  with  cards,  and  made 
me  acquainted  with  all  his  apparatus  for  prepared  tricks. 
For  hours  and  hours  was  I  employed  by  his  directions  in 
what  is  called  "  making  the  pass  "  with  a  pack  of  cards,  as 
almost  all  tricks  on  cards  depend  upon  your  dexterity  in 
this  man(Euvre.  In  about  a  month  I  was  considered  as  a 
very  fair  adept  •,  in  the  meantime,  Timothy  had  to  undergo 
his  career  of  gymnastics,  and  was  to  be  seen  all  day 
tumbling  and  retumbling,  until  he  could  tumble  on 
his  feet  again.  Light  and  active,  he  soon  became  a 
very  dexterous  performer,  and  could  throw  a  somerset 
either  backwards  or  forwards,  walk  on  his  hands,  eat  fire, 
pull  out  ribbons,  and  do  fifty  other  tricks  to  amuse  a 
gaping  audience.  Jumbo  also  was  worked  hard,  to  bring 
down  his  fat,  and  never  was  allowed  his  dinner  until  he 
had  given  satisfaction  to  Melchior.  Even  little  Fleta  had 
to  practise  occasionally,  as  we  were  preparing  for  an 
expedition.  Melchior,  who  appeared  determined  to  create 
an  effect,  left  us  for  three  days,  and  returned  with  not  only 


62  Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father 

dresses  for  Timothy  and  me,  but  also  new  dresses  for  the 
rest  of  the  company  ;  and  shortly  afterwards,  bidding  fare- 
well to  Nattee  and  the  rest  of  the  gipsies,  we  all  set  out 
— that  is,  Melchior,  I,  Timothy,  Fleta,  Num,  and  Jumbo. 

Late  in  the  evening  we  arrived  at  the  little  town  of -, 

and  took  up  our  quarters  at  a  public-house,  with  the 
landlord  of  which  Melchior  had  already  made  arrange- 
ments. 

*' Well,  Timothy,"  said  I,  as  soon  as  we  were  in  bed, 
"  how  do  you  like  our  new  life  and  prospects  ? " 

"  I  like  it  better  than  Mr  Cophagus's  rudimans,  and 
carrying  out  physic,  at  all  events.  But  how  does  your 
dignity  like  turning  Merry  Andrew,  Japhet  ? " 

"  To  tell  you  the  truth,  I  do  not  dislike  it.  There  is  a 
wildness  and  a  devil-may-care  feeling  connected  with  it 
which  is  grateful  to  me  at  present.  How  long  it  may  last 
I  cannot  tell ;  but  for  a  year  or  two  it  appears  to  me 
that  we  may  be  very  happy.  At  all  events,  we  shall  see 
the  world,  and  have  more  than  one  profession  to  fall  back 
upon." 

"  That  is  true ;  but  there  is  one  thing  that  annoys  me, 
Japhet,  which  is,  we  may  have  difficulty  in  leaving  these 
people  when  we  wish.  Besides,  you  forget  that  you  are 
losing  sight  of  the  principal  object  you  had  in  view,  that  is, 
of  *  finding  out  your  father.' " 

"I  certainly  never  expect  to  find  him  among  the 
gipsies,"  replied  I,  "  for  children  are  at  a  premium  with 
them.  They  steal  from  others,  and  are  not  very  likely 
therefore  to  leave  them  at  the  Foundling.  But  I  do  not 
know  whether  I  have  not  as  good  a  chance  in  our  present 
employment  as  in  any  other.  I  have  often  been  thinking 
that  as  fortune-tellers,  we  may  get  hold  of  many  strange 
secrets  ;  however,  we  shall  see.  Melchior  says,  that  he 
intends  to  appear  in  that  character  as  soon  as  he  has  made 
a  harvest  in  his  present  one." 

"What  do  you  think  of  Melchior,  now  that  you  have 
been  so  much  with  him  ? " 

"  I  think  him  an  unprincipled  man,  but  still  with  many 


Japhet.  in  Search  of  a  Father  6^ 

good  qualities.  He  appears  to  have  a  pleasure  in  deceit, 
and  to  have  waged  war  with  the  world  in  general.  Still 
he  is  generous,  and,  to  a  certain  degree,  confiding  ;  kind  in 
his  disposition,  and  apparently  a  very  good  husband. 
There  is  something  on  his  mind  which  weighs  him  down 
occasionally,  and  checks  him  in  the  height  of  his  mirth.  It 
comes  over  him  like  a  dark  cloud  over  a  bright  summer  sun  ; 
and  he  is  all  gloom  for  a  few  minutes.  I  do  not  think  that 
he  would  now  commit  any  great  crime ;  but  I  have  a 
suspicion  that  he  has  done  something  which  is  a  constant 
cause  of  remorse." 

"  You  are  a  very  good  judge  of  character,  Japhet.  But 
what  a  dear  little  child  is  that  Fleta !  She  may  exclaim 
v/ith  you — Who  is  my  father  ?  " 

"  Yes,  we  are  both  in  much  the  same  predicament,  and 
that  it  is  which  I  believe  has  so  much  increased  my  attach- 
ment to  her.  We  are  brother  and  sister  in  misfortune,  and 
a  sister  she  ever  shall  be  to  me,  if  such  is  the  v/ill  of 
Heaven.  But  we  must  rise  early  to-morrow,  Tim ;  so 
good-night." 

'*  Yes,  to-morrow  it  will  be  juggle  and  tumble — eat  fire 
— um — and  so  on,  as  Mr  Cophagus  would  have  said ;  so 
good-night,  Japhet." 

The  next  morning  we  arrayed  ourselves  in  our  new 
habiliments ;  mine  were  silk  stockings,  shoes,  and  white 
kerseymere  kneed  breeches,  a  blue  silk  waistcoat  loaded 
with  tinsel,  and  a  short  jacket  to  correspond  of  blue  velvet, 
a  sash  round  my  waist,  a  hat  and  a  plume  of  feathers. 
Timothy  declared  I  looked  very  handsome,  and  as  the  glass 
said  the  same  as  plain  as  it  could  speak,  I  believed  him. 
Timothy's  dress  was  a  pair  of  wide  Turkish  trousers  and 
red  jacket,  with  spangles.  The  others  were  much  the  same. 
Fleta  was  attired  in  small,  white  satin,  Turkish  trousers, 
blue  muslin  and  silver  embroidered  frock,  worked  sandals, 
and  her  hair  braided  and  plaited  in  long  tails  behind,  and 
she  looked  like  a  little  sylph.  Melchior's  dress  was 
precisely  the  same  as  mine,  and  a  more  respectable  company 
was    seldom    seen.     Some  musicians  had  been  hired,  and 


64  Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father 

handbills  were  now  circulated  all  over  the  town,  stating 
that  Signer  Eugenio  Velotti,  with  his  company,  would  have 
the  honour  of  performing  before  the  nobility  and  gentry. 
The  bill  contained  the  fare  which  was  to  be  provided,  and 
intimated  the  hour  of  the  performance,  and  the  prices  to  be 
paid  for  the  seats.  The  performance  was  to  take  place  in 
a  very  large  room  attached  to  the  inn,  which,  previous  to 
the  decadence  of  the  town,  had  been  used  as  an  assembly- 
room.  A  platform  was  erected  on  the  outside,  on  which 
were  placed  the  musicians,  and  where  we  all  occasionally 
made  our  appearance  in  our  splendid  dresses  to  attract  the 
wonder  of  the  people.  There  we  strutted  up  and  down, 
all  but  poor  little  Fleta,  who  appeared  to  shrink  at  the  dis- 
play from  intuitive  modesty.  When  the  music  ceased, 
a  smart  parley  between  Melchior  and  me,  and  Philotas, 
and  Timothy,  as  the  two  fools,  would  take  place ;  and 
Melchior  declared,  after  the  performance  was  over,  that  we 
conducted  ourselves  to  admiration. 

"Pray,  Mr  Philotas,  do  me  the  favour  to  tell  me  how 
many  people  you  think  are  now  present  ? "  said  Melchior  to 
Num,  in  an  imperative  voice. 

"  I  don't  know,"  said  Num,  looking  up  with  his  idiotical, 
melancholy  face. 

"  Ha !  ha !  ha !  "  roared  the  crowd  at  Num's  stupid 
answer. 

"  The  fellow's  a  fool  i  '*  said  Melchior,  to  the  gaping 
audience. 

**  Well,  then,  if  he  can't  tell,  perhaps  you  may,  Mr 
Dionysius,"  said  I,  addressing  Tim. 

"  How  many,  sir  ?  Do  you  want  to  know  exactly  and 
directly  ?  " 

"  Yes,  sir,  immediately." 

"  Without  counting,  sir  ?  " 

**  Yes,  sir,  without  counting." 

"Well  then,  sir,  I  will  tell,  and  make  no  mistake j 
there's  exactly  as  many  again  as  half." 

"  Ha !  ha  !  ha  !  "  from  the  crowd. 

"  That  won't  do,  sir.     How  many  may  be  the  half?'* 


Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father  6§ 

" How  many  may  be  the  half?  Do  you  know  yourself, 
sir?" 

"  Yes,  sir,  to  be  sure  I  do." 

"  Then  there's  no  occasion  for  me  to  tell  you." 

*^Ha!  ha!  ha!" 

"Well  then,  sir,"  continued  Melchior  to  Philotas,  "per- 
haps you'll  tell  how  many  ladies  and  gentlemen  we  may 
expect  to  honour  us  with  their  company  to-night." 

"  How  many,  sir  ? " 

**  Yes,  sir,  how  many." 

**  I'm  sure  I  don't  know,"  said  Num,  after  a  pause. 

"  Positively  you  are  the  greatest  fool  I  ever  met  with," 
said  Melchior. 

"  Well,  he  does  act  the  fool  as  natural  as  life,"  observed 
the  crowd.     "  What  a  stupid  face  he  does  put  on !  " 

"  Perhaps  you  will  be  able  to  answer  that  question,  Mr 
Dionysius,"  said  I  to  Tim. 

*'  Yes,  sir,  I  know  exactly." 

"Well,  sir,  let's  hear." 

"  In  the  first  place,  all  the  pretty  women  will  come,  and 
all  the  ugly  ones  stay  away ;  and  as  for  the  men,  all  those 
who  have  got  any  money  will  be  certain  to  come  j  those 
who  hav'n't,  poor  devils,  must  stay  outside." 

"  Suppose,  sir,  you  make  a  bow  to  the  ladies." 

"  A  very  low  one,  sir  ? " 

"  Yes,  very  low  indeed." 

Tim  bent  his  body  to  the  ground,  and  threw  a  somerset 
forward.  "  There,  sir ;  I  bowed  so  low,  that  I  came  up 
on  the  other  side." 

"  Ha !  ha  !  capital !  "  from  the  crowd. 

"  I've  got  a  round  turn  in  my  back,  sir,"  continued 
Tim,  rubbing  himself.  "  Hadn't  I  better  take  it  out 
again  ? " 

"  By  all  means." 

Tim  threw  a  somerset  backwards.  "There,  sir,  all's 
right  now.  One  good  turn  deserves  another.  Now  I'll 
be  off." 

"  Where  are  you  going  to,  sir  ? " 

F  B 


66  Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father 

"  Going,  sir  !  Why,  I  left  my  lollipop  in  the  tinder-box, 
and  I'm  going  to  fetch  it." 

^'Ha!  ha!  ha!" 

*'  Strike  up,  music !  "  and  Master  Jumbo  commenced 
tumbling. 

Such  was  the  elegant  wit  with  which  we  amused  and 
attracted  the  audience.  Perhaps,  had  we  been  more 
refined,  we  should  not  have  been  so  successful. 

That  evening  we  had  the  room  as  full  as  it  could  hold. 
Signor  Velotti  alias  Melchior  astonished  them.  The  cards 
appeared  to  obey  his  commands — rings  were  discovered  in 
lady's-shoes — watches  were  beat  to  a  powder  and  made 
whole — canary  birds  flew  out  of  eggs.  The  audience  were 
delighted.  The  entertainment  closed  with  Fleta's  per- 
formance on  the  slack  wire ;  and  certainly  never  was  there 
anything  more  beautiful  and  graceful.  Balanced  on  the 
wire  in  a  continual,  waving  motion,  her  eyes  fixed  upon  a 
point  to  enable  her  to  maintain  her  position,  she  performed 
several  feats,  such  as  the  playing  with  five  oranges, 
balancing  swords,  &c.  Her  extreme  beauty — her  very 
picturesque  and  becoming  dress — her  mournful  expression 
and  downcast  eyes — her  gentle  manner,  appeared  to  win 
the  hearts  of  the  audience  ;  and  when  she  was  assisted  off 
from  her  perilous  situation  by  Melchior  and  me,  and  made 
her  graceful  courtesy,  the  plaudits  were  unanimous. 

When  the  company  dispersed  I  went  to  her,  intending  to 
praise  her,  but  I  found  her  in  tears.  "  What  is  the  matter, 
my  dear  Fleta  ?  " 

"  O  nothing  !  don't  say  I  have  been  crying — but  I  can- 
not bear  it — so  many  people  looking  at  me.  Don't  say  a 
word  to  Melchior — I  won't  cry  any  more." 


Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father  ^^ 


Chapter  XII 

It  is  very  easy  to  humbug  those  who  are  so  eager  to  be  humbugged  as  people 
are  in  this  world  of  humbug — We  show  ourselves  excessively  disinterested, 
which  astonishes  everybody. 

I  KISSED  and  consoled  her  ♦,  she  threw  her  arm  round  my 
neck,  and  remained  there  with  her  face  hid  for  some  time. 
We  then  joined  the  others  at  supper.  Melchior  was  much 
pleased  with  our  success,  and  highly  praised  the  conduct 
of  Timothy  and  myself,  which  he  pronounced  was,  for  the 
first  attempt,  far  beyond  his  expectations. 

We  continued  to  astonish  all  the  good  people  of 

for  five  days,  when  we  discovered  the  indubitable  fact, 
that  there  was  no  more  money  to  be  extracted  from  their 
pockets,  upon  which  we  resumed  our  usual  clothes  and 
smock  frocks,  and  with  our  bundles  in  our  hands,  set  off 
for  another  market  town,  about  fifteen  miles  distant. 
There  we  were  equally  successful,  and  Melchior  was 
delighted  with  our  having  proved  such  a  powerful  acquisi- 
tion to  his  troop  :  but  not  to  dwell  too  long  upon  one 
subject,  I  shall  inform  the  reader  that,  after  a  trip  of  six 
weeks,  during  which  we  were  very  well  received,  we  once 
more  returned  to  the  camp,  which  had  located  within  five 
miles  of  our  last  scene  of  action.  Every  one  was  content 
— we  were  all  glad  to  get  back  and  rest  from  our  labours. 
Melchior  was  pleased  with  his  profits,  poor  little  Fleta 
overjoyed  to  be  once  more  in  the  seclusion  of  her  tent,  and 
Nattee  very  glad  to  hear  of  our  good  fortune,  and  to  see 
her  husband.  Timothy  and  I  had  already  proved  ourselves 
so  useful,  that  Melchior  treated  us  with  the  greatest  friend- 
ship and  confidence — and  he  made  us  a  present  out  of  the 
gains,  for  our  exertions ;  to  me  he  gave  ten,  and  to 
Timothy  five,  pounds. 

"  There,  Japhet,  had  you  hired  yourself  I  should  not 
have  paid  you  more  than  seven  shillings  per  week,  finding 
you  in  food  ;  but  you  must  acknowledge  that  for  six  weeks 


68  Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father 

that  is  not  bad  pay.  However,  your  earnings  will  depend 
upon  our  success,  and  I  rather  think  that  we  shall  make  a 
much  better  thing  of  it  when  next  we  start,  which  will  be 
in  about  a  fortnight ;  but  we  have  some  arrangements  to 
make.     Has  Timothy  a  good  memory  .?  '* 

"  I  think  he  has." 

"  That  is  well.  I  told  you  before  that  we  are  to  try  the 
'  Wise  Man,' — but  first  we  must  have  Nattee  in  play.  To- 
morrow we  will  start  for ,"  mentioning  a  small  quiet 

town  about  four  miles  off. 

We  did  so,  early  the  next  morning,  and  arrived  about 
noon,  pitching  our  tents  on  the  common,  not  far  from  the 
town ;  but  in  this  instance  we  left  all  the  rest  of  our  gang 
behind.  Melchior's  own  party  and  his  two  tents  were  all 
that  were  brought  by  the  donkeys. 

Melchior  and  I,  dressed  as  countrymen,  went  into  the 
town  at  dusk,  and  entered  a  respectable  sort  of  inn, 
taking  our  seats  at  one  of  the  tables  in  the  tap-room,  and, 
as  we  had  already  planned,  after  we  had  called  for  beer, 
commenced  a  conversation  in  the  hearing  of  the  others 
who  were  sitting  drinking  and  smoking. 

"  Well,  I  never  will  believe  it — it's  all  cheat  and 
trickery,"  said  Melchior,  "and  they  only  do  it  to  pick 
your  pocket.  Tell  your  fortune,  indeed  !  I  suppose  she 
promised  you  a  rich  wife  and  half-a-dozen  children." 

"  No,  she  did  not,"  replied  I,  "  for  I  am  too  young  to 
marry ;  but  she  told  me  what  I  know  has  happened." 

"  Well,  what  was  that  ? " 

"  Why,  she  told  me  that  my  mother  had  married  again, 
and  turned  me  out  of  doors  to  work  for  my  bread." 

**  But  she  might  have  heard  that." 

"  How  could  she  ?  No,  that's  not  possible ;  but  she 
told  me  I  had  a  mole  on  my  knee,  which  was  a  sign  of 
luck.     Now  how  could  she  know  that  ?  " 

"  Well,  I  grant  that  was  odd — and  pray  what  else  did 
she  promise  you  ? " 

"  Why,  she  said,  that  I  should  meet  with  my  dearest 
friend  to-night.  Now  that  does  puzzle  me,  for  I  have  but 
one  in  the  world,  and  he  is  a  long  way  off.'* 


Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father  69 

**  Well,  if  you  do  meet  your  friend,  then  I'll  believe 
her ;  but  if  not,  it  has  been  all  guess-work  ;  and  pray  what 
did  you  pay  for  all  this — was  it  a  shiUing,  or  did  she  pick 
your  pocket  ? " 

"  That's  what  puzzles  me, — she  refused  to  take  any- 
thing. I  offered  it  again  and  again,  and  she  said,  *  No  ;  that 
she  would  have  no  money — that  her  gift  was  not  to  be 
sold.'" 

"  Well,  that  is  odd.  Do  you  hear  what  this  young 
man  says,"  said  Melchior,  addressing  the  others,  who  had 
swallowed  every  word. 

"  Yes,"  replied  one ;   **  but  who  is  this  person  .?" 

**The  queen  of  the  gipsies,  I  am  told.  I  never  saw 
such  a  wonderful  woman  in  my  life — her  eye  goes  right 
through  you.  I  met  her  on  the  common,  and,  as  she 
passed,  she  dropped  a  handkerchief.  I  ran  back  to  give 
it  her,  and  then  she  thanked  me,  and  said,  '  Open  your 
hand  and  let  me  see  the  palm.  Here  are  great  lines,  and 
you  will  be  fortunate  ; '  and  then  she  told  me  a  great  deal 
more,  and  bid  God  bless  me." 

"  Then  if  she  said  that,  she  cannot  have  dealings  with 
the  devil^"^  observed  Melchior. 

"  Very  odd — very  strange — take  no  money — queen  of  the 
gipsies,"  was  echoed  from  all  sides. 

The  landlady  and  the  barmaid  listened  with  wonder, 
when  who  should  come  in,  as  previously  agreed,  but 
Timothy.  I  pretended  not  to  see  him,  but  he  came  up  to 
me,  seizing  me  by  the  hand,  and  shaking  it  with  apparent 
delight,  and  crying,  "■  Wilson,  have  you  forgot  Smith  ?  " 

"  Smith  !  "  cried  I,  looking  earnestly  in  his  face.  "  Why, 
so  it  is.     How  came  you  here  ?  " 

"  I  left  Dublin  three  days  ago,"  replied  he,  "but  how  I 
came  here  into  this  house,  is  one  of  the  strangest  things 
that  ever  occurred.  I  was  walking  over  the  common,  when 
a  tall  handsome  woman  looked  at  me,  and  said,  •  Young 
man,  if  you  will  go  into  the  third  public-house  you  pass, 
you  will  meet  an  old  friend,  who  expects  you.  I  thought 
she  was  laughing  at  me,  but  as  it  mattered  very  little  in 


70  Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father 

which  house  I  passed  the  night,  I  thought,  for  the  fun  of 
the  thing  I  might  as  well  take  her  advice." 

"  How  strange  !  "  cried  Mekhior,  "  and  she  told  him 
the  same — that  is,  he  would  meet  a  friend." 

**  Strange — very  strange — wonderful — astonishing ! "  was 
echoed  from  all  quarters,  and  the  fame  of  the  gipsy  was 
already  established. 

Timothy  and  I  sat  down  together,  conversing  as  old 
friends,  and  Melchior  went  about  from  one  to  the  other, 
narrating  the  wonderful  occurrence  till  past  midnight,  when 
we  all  three  took  beds  at  the  inn,  as  if  we  were  travellers. 

The  report  which  we  had  circulated  that  evening  induced 
many  people  to  go  out  to  see  Nattee,  who  appeared  to 
take  no  notice  of  them ;  and  when  asked  to  tell  fortunes, 
waved  them  away  with  her  hand.  But,  although  this 
plan  of  Melchior's  was,  for  the  first  two  or  three  days  very 
expedient,  yet,  as  it  was  not  intended  to  last,  Timothy, 
who  remained  with  me  at  the  inn,  became  very  intimate 
with  the  barmaid,  and  obtained  from  her  most  of  the 
particulars  of  her  life.  I,  also,  from  repeated  conversations 
with  the  landlady,  received  information  very  important, 
relative  to  herself,  and  many  of  the  families  in  the  town, 
but  as  the  employment  of  Nattee  was  for  an  ulterior 
object,  we  contented  ourselves  with  gaining  all  the  infor- 
mation we  could  before  we  proceeded  further.  After  we 
had  been  there  a  week,  and  the  fame  of  the  gipsy  woman 
had  been  marvellously  increased — many  things  having  been 
asserted  of  her  which  were  indeed  truly  improbable — 
Melchior  agreed  that  Timothy  should  persuade  the  barmaid 
to  try  if  the  gipsy  woman  would  tell  her  fortune  :  the  girl, 
with  some  trepidation,  agreed,  but  at  the  same  time, 
expecting  to  be  refused,  consented  to  walk  with  him  over 
the  common.  Timothy  advised  her  to  pretend  to  pick  up 
a  sixpence  when  near  to  Nattee,  and  ask  her  if  it  did  not 
belong  to  her,  and  the  barmaid  acted  upon  his  suggestions, 
having  just  before  that  quitted  the  arm  of  Timothy,  who 
had  conducted  her. 

**  Did  you  drop  a  sixpence  ?     I  have  picked  up  one," 


Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father  71 

said  the  girl,  trembling  with  fear  as  she  addressed 
Nattee. 

"  Child,"  replied  Nattee,  who  was  prepared,  "  I  have 
neither  dropped  a  sixpence  nor  have  you  found  one — but 
never  mind  that,  I  know  that  which  you  wish,  and  I  know 
who  you  are.  Now  what  would  you  with  me  ?  Is  it  to 
inquire  whether  the  landlord  and  landlady  of  the  Golden 
Lion  intend  to  keep  you  in  their  service  ? " 

"  No,"  replied  the  girl,  frightened  at  what  she  heard  ; 
"  not  to  inquire  that,  but  to  ask  what  my  fortune  will 
be?" 

**  Open  your  palm,  pretty  maid,  and  I  will  tell  you. 
Hah  !  I  see  that  you  were  born  in  the  West — your  father 
is  dead — your  mother  is  in  service — and  let  me  see, — you 
have  a  brother  at  sea — now  in  the  West  Indies." 

At  this  intelligence,  all  of  which,  as  may  be  supposed, 
had  been  gathered  by  us,  the  poor  girl  was  so  frightened 
that  she  fell  down  in  a  swoon,  and  Timothy  carried  her 
oiF.  When  she  was  taken  home  to  the  inn,  she  was  so  ill 
that  she  was  put  into  bed,  and  what  she  did  say  was  so  in- 
coherent, that,  added  to  Timothy's  narrative,  the  astonish- 
ment of  the  landlady  and  others  was  beyond  all  bounds. 
I  tried  very  hard  to  bring  the  landlady,  but  she  would 
not  consent ;  and  now  Nattee  was  pestered  by  people  of 
higher  condition,  who  wished  to  hear  what  she  would 
say.  Here  Nattee's  powers  were  brought  into  play. 
She  would  not  refuse  to  see  them,  but  would  not  give 
answers  till  she  had  asked  questions,  and,  as  from  us  she 
had  gleaned  much  general  information,  so  by  making 
this  knowledge  appear  in  her  questions  to  them,  she  made 
them  believe  she  knew  more.  If  a  young  person  came 
to  her,  she  would  immediately  ask  the  name — of  that 
name  she  had  all  the  references  acquired  from  us,  as  to 
family  and  connections.  Bearing  upon  them,  she  would 
ask  a  few  more,  and  then  give  them  an  abrupt  dismissal. 

This  behaviour  was  put  up  with  from  one  of  her  com- 
manding presence,  who  refused  money,  and  treated  those 
who  accosted   her,  as  if  she  was   their  superior.     Many 


72  Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father 

came  again  and  again,  telling  her  all  they  knew,  and 
acquainting  her  with  every  transaction  of  their  life,  to 
induce  her  to  prophesy,  for  such,  she  informed  them, 
was  the  surest  way  to  call  the  spirit  upon  her.  By  these 
means  we  obtained  the  secret  history  of  the  major  part, 

that   is,  the  wealthier  part   of  the    town  of  ;    and 

although  the  predictions  of  Nattee  were  seldom  given,  yet 
when  given,  they  were  given  with  such  perfect  and  apparent 
knowledge  of  the  parties,  that  when  she  left,  which  she 
did  about  six  weeks  after  her  first  appearance,  the  whole 
town  rang  with  accounts  of  her  wonderful  powers. 

It  will  appear  strange  that  Melchior  would  not  permit 
Nattee  to  reap  a  harvest,  which  might  have  been  great; 
but  the  fact  was,  that  he  only  allowed  the  seed  to  be 
sown  that  a  greater  harvest  might  be  gathered  here- 
after. Nattee  disappeared,  the  gipsies'  tent  was  no 
longer  on  the  common,  and  the  grass,  which  had  been 
beaten  down  into  a  road  by  the  feet  of  the  frequent 
applicants  to  her,  was  again  permitted  to  spring  up.  "We 
also  took  our  departure,  and  rejoined  the  camp  with 
Nattee,  where  we  remained  for  a  fortnight,  to  permit  the 
remembrance  of  her  to  subside  a  little — knowing  that  the 
appetite  was  alive,  and  would  not  be  satisfied  until  it 
was  appeased. 

After  that  time,  Melchior,  Timothy,  and  I,  again  set 

off  for  the  town  of ,  and  stopping  at  a  superior  inn 

in  another  part  of  the  town,  dressed  as  travellers,  that  is, 
people  who  go  about  the  country  for  orders  from  the 
manufacturers,  ordered  our  beds  and  supper  in  the  coffee- 
room.  The  conversation  was  soon  turned  upon  the 
wonderful  powers  of  Nattee,  the  gipsy.  "  Nonsense," 
said  Melchior,  "  she  knows  nothing.  I  have  heard  of 
her.  But  there  is  a  man  coming  this  way  (should  he 
happen  to  pass  through  this  town)  who  will  surprise  and 
frighten  you.  No  one  knows  who  he  is.  He  is  named 
the  Great  Aristodemus.  He  knows  the  past,  the  present, 
and  the  future.  He  never  looks  at  people's  hands — he 
only  looks  you  in  the  face,  and  woe  be  to  them  who  tell  him 


Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father  73 

a  He.  •  Otherwise,  he  is  good-tempered  and  obliging,  and 
will  tell  what  will  come  to  pass,  and  his  predictions  never 
have  been  known  to  fail.  They  say  that  he  is  hundreds 
of  years  old,  and  his  hair  is  white  as  silver.  At  this 
information  many  expressed  their  doubts,  and  many  others 
vaunted  the  powers  of  the  gipsy.  Melchior  replied, 
**  that  all  he  knew  was,  that  for  the  sum  of  two  guineas 
paid  down,  he  had  told  him  of  a  legacy  left  him  of  six 
hundred  pounds,  which  otherwise  he  would  never  have 

known  of  or   received."     All   the   town  of  being 

quite  alive  for  fortune-telling,  this  new  report  gained 
wind,  and  after  a  week's  sojourn,  Melchior  thought  that 
the  attempt  should  be  made. 


Chapter  XIII 

The  seed  having  been  carefully  sown,  we  now  reap  a  golden  harvest — We 
tell  every  body  what  they  knew  before,  and  we  are  looked  upon  as  most 
marvellous  by  most  marvellous  fools. 

We  accordingly  packed  up,  and  departed  to  another 
market  town.  Timothy,  dressed  in  a  sombre  suit  of 
black,  very  much  like  an  undertaker,  was  provided  with 
a  horse,  with  the  following  directions:  to  proceed 
leisurely  until  he  was  within  half  a  mile  of  the  town  of 

,  and  then  to  gallop  in  as  fast  as  he  could,  stop  at 

the  best  inn  in  the  place,  and  order  apartments  for  the 
Great  Aristodemus,  who  might  be  expected  in  half  an 
hour.  Every  thing  in  this  world  depends  upon  appear- 
ances, that  is,  when  you  intend  to  gull  it ;  and  as  every 
one  in  the  town  had  heard  of  the  Great  Aristodemus, 
so  every  one  was  anxious  to  know  something  about  him, 
and  Timothy  was  pestered  with  all  manner  of  questions  ; 
but  he  declared  that  he  was  only  his  courier,  and  could 
only  tell  what  other  people  said  ;  but  then  what  other 
people  said,  by  Timothy's  account,  was  very  marvellous 
indeed.     Timothy  had   hardly    time   to   secure   the   best 


74  Ja-phet,  in  Search  of  a  Father 

rooms  in  the  hotel,  when  Melchior,  dressed  in  a«  long 
flowing  silk  gown,  with  a  wig  of  long  white  hair,  a 
square  cap,  and  two  or  three  gold  chains  hanging  from 
his  neck,  certainly  most  admirably  disguised,  and  attended 
by  me  in  the  dress  of  a  German  student,  a  wig  of  long 
brown  locks  hanging  down  my  shoulders,  made  our 
appearance  in  a  post-chaise  and  four,  and  drove  up  to  the 
door  of  the  inn,  at  a  pace  which  shook  every  house  in  the 
street,  and  occasioned  every  window  to  be  tenanted  with 
one  or  more  heads  to  ascertain  the  cause  of  this  unusual 
occurrence,  for  it  was  not  a  very  great  town,  although 
once  of  importance;  but  the  manufactures  had  been 
removed,  and  it  was  occupied  by  those  who  had  become 
independent  by  their  own  exertions,  or  by  those  of  their 
forefathers. 

The  door  of  the  chaise  was  opened  by  the  obsequious 
Timothy,  who  pushed  away  the  ostlers  and  waiters,  as  if 
unworthy  to  approach  his  master,  and  the  Great  Aristo- 
demus  made  his  appearance.  As  he  ascended  the  steps  of 
the  door,  his  passage  was  for  a  moment  barred  by  one 
whose  profession  Melchior  well  knew.  "  Stand  aside, 
exciseman!"  said  he,  in  a  commanding  voice.  "No  one 
crosses  my  path  with  impunity."  Astonished  at  hearing 
his  profession  thus  mentioned,  the  exciseman,  who  was 
the  greatest  bully  in  the  town,  slipped  on  one  side  with 
consternation,  and  all  those  present  lifted  up  their  eyes 
and  hands  with  astonishment.  The  Great  Aristodemus 
gained  his  room,  and  shut  his  door  ;  and  I  went  out  to 
pay  for  the  chaise  and  order  supper,  while  Timothy  and 
the  porters  were  busy  with  our  luggage,  which  was  very 
considerable. 

"  My  master  will  not  see  any  one,"  said  I  to  the  land- 
lord ;  "he  quits  this  town  to-morrow,  if  the  letters  arrive 
which  he  expects  by  the  post ;  therefore,  pray  get  rid  of 
this  crowd,  and  let  him  be  quiet,  for  he  is  very  tired, 
having  travelled  one  hundred  and  fifty  miles  since  the 
dawn  of  day." 

When  Tim  and  I  had  performed  this  duty,  we  joined 


Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father  ^^ 

Melchior  in  his  room,  leaving  the  news  to  be  circulated. 
"  This  promises  well,"  observed  Melchior ;  "up  to  the 
present  we  have  expended  much  time  and  money  ;  now 
we  must  see  if  we  cannot  recover  it  tenfold.  Japhet,  you 
must  take  an  opportunity  of  going  out  again  after  supper, 
and  make  inquiries  of  the  landlord  what  poor  people  they 
have  in  the  town,  as  I  am  very  generous,  and  like  to 
relieve  them ;  you  may  observe,  that  all  the  money  offered 
to  me  for  practising  my  art,  I  give  away  to  the  poor, 
having  no  occasion  for  it."  This  I  did,  and  we  then  sat 
down  to  supper,  and  having  unpacked  our  baggage,  went 
to  bed,  after  locking  the  door  of  the  room,  and  taking  out 
the  key. 

The  next  morning  we  had  every  thing  in  readiness,  and 
as  the  .letters,  as  the  reader  may  suppose,  did  not  arrive  by 
the  post,  we  were  obliged  to  remain,  and  the  landlord 
ventured  to  hint  to  me,  that  several  people  were  anxious 
to  consult  my  master.  I  replied,  that  I  would  speak  to 
him,  but  it  was  necessary  to  caution  those  who  came,  that 
they  must  either  offer  gold — or  nothing  at  all.  I  brought 
his  consent  to  see  one  or  two,  but  no  more.  Now,  although 
we  had  various  apparatus  to  use  when  required,  it  was 
thought  that  the  effect  would  be  greater,  if,  in  the  first 
instance,  every  thing  was  simple.  Melchior,  therefore, 
remained  sitting  at  the  table,  which  was  covered  with  a 
black  cloth,  worked  with  curious  devices,  and  a  book  of 
hieroglyphics  before  him,  and  an  ivory  wand,  tipped  with 
gold,  lying  by  the  book.  Timothy  standing  at  the  door, 
with  a  short  Roman  sword  buckled  round  his  belt,  and  I, 
in  a  respectful  attitude,  behind  the  Great  Aristodemus. 

The  first  person  who  was  admitted  was  the  lady  of  the 
mayor  of  the  town ;  nothing  could  be  more  fortunate,  as 
we  had  every  information  relative  to  her  and  her  spouse, 
for  people  in  high  places  are  always  talked  of.  Aristo- 
demus waved  his  hand,  and  I  brought  forward  a  chair  in 
silence,  and  motioned  that  she  should  be  seated.  Aristo- 
demus looked  her  in  her  face,  and  then  turned  over  several 
leaves,  until  he  fixed  upon  a  page,  which  he  considered 


76  Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father 

attentively.     "  Mayoress  of ,  what  wouldst  thou  with 

me?" 

She  started,  and  turned  pale.     "  I  would  ask " 

"I  know;  thou  wouldst  ask  many  things,  perhaps,  had 
I  time  to  listen.  Amongst  others  thou  wouldst  ask  if  there 
is  any  chance  of  thy  giving  an  heir  to  thy  husband.  Is  it 
not  so  ? " 

"  Yes,  it  is,"  replied  the  lady,  fetching  her  breath. 

"  So  do  I  perceive  by  this  book ;  but  let  me  put  one 
question  to  thee.  Wouldst  thou  have  blessings  showered 
on  thee,  yet  do  no  good  ?  Thou  art  wealthy — yet  what 
dost  thou  and  thy  husband  do  with  these  riches  ?  Are  ye 
liberal  ?     No.      Give,  and  it  shall  be  given.     I  have  said." 

Aristodemus  waved  his  hand,  and  the  lady  rose  to  with- 
draw. A  guinea  was  in  her  fingers,  and  her  purse  in  her 
hand ;  she  took  out  four  more,  and  added  them  to  the 
other,  and  laid  them  on  the  table. 

"  'Tis  well,  lady  ;  charity  shall  plead  for  thee.  Artolphe, 
let  that  money  be  distributed  among  the  poor," 

I  bowed  in  silence,  and  the  lady  retired. 

**  Who  will  say  that  I  do  no  good,"  observed  Melchior, 
smiling,  as  soon  as  she  was  gone,  "  Her  avarice  and  that 
of  her  husband  are  as  notorious  as  their  anxiety  for 
children.  Now,  if  I  persuade  them  to  be  liberal,  I  do 
service." 

**  But  you  have  given  her  hopes." 

**  I  have,  and  the  very  hope  will  do  more  to  further 
their  wishes  than  anything  else.  It  is  despair  which  too 
often  prevents  those  who  have  no  children,  from  having 
any.  How  often  do  you  see  a  couple,  who,  after  years 
waiting  for  children,  have  at  last  given  up  their  hope,  and 
resigned  themselves  to  the  dispensations  of  Providence, 
and  then,  when  their  anxiety  has  subsided,  have  obtained 
a  family  ^  Japhet,  I  am  a  shrewd  observer  of  human 
nature." 

"That  I  believe,"  replied  I;  "but  I  do  not  believe 
your  last  remark  to  be  correct — but  Timothy  raps  at  the 
door." 


Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father  77 

Another  lady  entered  the  room,  and  then  started  back, 
as  if  she  would  retreat,  so  surprised  was  she  at  the  appear- 
ance of  the  Great  Aristodemus ;  but  as  Timothy  had 
turned  the  key,  her  escape  was  impossible.  She  was 
unknown  to  us,  which  was  rather  awkward ;  but  Melchior 
raised  his  eyes  from  his  book,  and  waved  his  hand  as 
before,  that  she  should  be  seated.  With  some  trepidation 
she  stated,  that  she  was  a  widow,  whose  dependence  was 
upon  an  only  son  now  at  sea ;  that  she  had  not  heard  of 
him  for  a  long  while,  and  was  afraid  that  some  accident 
had  happened ;  that  she  was  in  the  greatest  distress — 
"  and,"  continued  she,  "  I  have  nothing  to  offer  but  this 
ring.  Can  you  tell  me  if  he  is  yet  alive  ? "  cried  she, 
bursting  into  tears;  "but  if  you  have  not  the  art  you 
pretend  to,  O  do  not  rob  a  poor,  friendless  creature,  but 
let  me  depart !  " 

"  When  did  you  receive  your  last  letter  from  him  ?  " 
said  Melchior. 

"It  is  now  seven  months — dated  from  Bahia,"  replied 
she,  pulling  it  out  of  her  reticule,  and  covering  her  face 
with  her  handkerchief. 

Melchior  caught  the  address,  and  then  turned  the  letter 
over  on  the  other  side,  as  it  lay  on  the  table.  "  Mrs 
Watson,"  said  he. 

"  Heavens  !  do  you  know  my  name  ? "  cried  the  woman. 

**  Mrs  Watson,  I  do  not  require  to  read  your  son's 
letter — I  know  its  contents."  He  then  turned  over  his 
book,  and  studied  for  a  few  seconds.  "  Your  son  is 
alive." 

*'  Thank  God ! "  cried  she,  clasping  her  hands,  and 
dropping  her  reticule. 

"But  you  must  not  expect  his  return  too  soon — he 
is  well  employed." 

"  Oh  !  I  care  not — he  is  alive — he  is  alive  !  God  bless 
you — God  bless  you  !  " 

Melchior  made  a  sign  to  me,  pointing  to  the  five 
guineas  and  the  reticule ;  and  I  contrived  to  slip  them 
into  her  reticule,  while  she  sobbed  in  her  handkerchief. 


yS  Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father 

"  Enough,  madam ;  you  must  go,  for  others  require 
my  aid." 

The  poor  woman  rose,  and  offered  the  ring. 

"Nay,  nay,  I  want  not  thy  money;  I  take  from  the 
rich,  that  I  may  distribute  to  the  poor — but  not  from 
the  widow  in  affliction.  Open  thy  bag."  The  widow 
took  up  her  bag,  and  opened  it.  Melchior  dropped  in 
the  ring,  taking  his  wand  from  the  table,  waved  it,  and 
touched  the  bag.  **  As  thou  art  honest,  so  may  thy 
present  wants  be  relieved.     Seek,  and  thou  shalt  find." 

The  widow  left  the  room  with  tears  of  gratitude ;  and 
I  must  say,  that  I  was  affected  with  the  same.  When  she 
had  gone,  I  observed  to  Melchior,  that  up  to  the  present 
he  had  toiled  for  nothing. 

"  Very  true,  Japhet  -,  but  depend  upon  it,  if  I  assisted 
that  poor  woman  from  no  other  feelings  than  interested 
motives,  I  did  well ;  but  I  tell  thee  candidly,  I  did  it 
from  compassion.  We  are  odd  mixtures  of  good  and 
eviL  I  wage  war  with  fools  and  knaves,  but  not  with 
all  the  world.  I  gave  that  money  freely — she  required 
it ;  and  it  may  be  put  as  a  set-off  against  my  usual  system 
of  fraud,  or  it  may  not — at  all  events,  I  pleased  myself." 

*'  But  you  told  her  that  her  son  was  alive." 

"Very  true,  and  he  may  be  dead;  but  is  it  not  well 
to  comfort  her — even  for  a  short  time,  to  relieve  that 
suspense  which  is  worse  than  the  actual  knowledge  of 
his  death  ?     Sufficient  for  the  day  is  the  evil  thereof." 

It  would  almost  have  appeared  that  this  good  action  of 
Melchior  met  with  its  reward,  for  the  astonishment  of 
the  widow  at  finding  the  gold  in  her  reticule — her 
narrative  of  what  passed,  and  her  assertion  (which  she 
firmly  believed  to  be  true),  that  she  had  never  left  her 
reticule  out  of  her  hand,  and  that  Melchior  had  only 
touched  it  with  his  wand,  raised  his  reputation,  to  that 
degree,  that  nothing  else  was  talked  about  throughout 
the  town,  and,  to  crown  all,  the  next  day's  post  brought 
her  a  letter  and  remittances  from  her  son  j  and  the  grate- 
ful woman  returned,  and  laid  ten  guineas  on  the  black 


Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father  79 

cloth,  showering  a  thousand  blessings  upon  Melchior, 
and  almost  worshipped  him  as  a  supernatural  being. 
This  was  a  most  fortunate  occurrence,  and  as  Melchior 
prophesied,  the  harvest  did  now  commence.  In  four 
days  we  had  received  upwards  of  ^^200,  and  we  then 
thought  it  time  that  we  should  depart.  The  letters 
arrived,  which  were  expected,  and  when  we  set  off  in 
a  chaise  and  four,  the  crowd  to  see  us  was  so  great, 
that  it  was  with  difficulty  we  could  pass  through  it. 


Chapter  XIV 

In  which  Melchior  talks  very  much  like  an  astrologer,  and  Tim  and  I 
return  to  our  old  trade  of  making  up  innocent  prescriptions. 

We  had  taken  our  horses  for  the  next  town ;  but  as 
soon  as  we  were  fairly  on  the  road,  I  stopped  the  boys, 
and  told  them  that  the  Great  Aristodemus  intended  to 
observe  the  planets  and  stars  that  night,  and  that  they 
were  to  proceed  to  a  common  which  I  mentioned.  The 
post-boys,  who  were  well  aware  of  his  fame,  and  as  fully 
persuaded  of  it  as  everybody  else,  drove  to  the  common ; 
we  descended,  took  off  the  luggage,  and  received  direc- 
tions from  Melchior  in  their  presence  about  the  instruments, 
to  which  the  boys  listened  with  open  mouths  and  wonder- 
ment. I  paid  them  well,  and  told  them  they  might  return, 
which  they  appeared  very  glad  to  do.  They  reported 
what  had  occurred,  and  this  simple  method  of  regaining 
our  camp,  added  to  the  astonishment  of  the  good  town 

of .     When  they  were  out  of  sight  we  resumed  our 

usual  clothes,  packed  all  up,  carried  away  most  of  our 
effects,  and  hid  the  others  in  the  furze  to  be  sent  for  the 
next  night,  not  being  more  than  two  miles  from  the 
camp.  We  soon  arrived,  and  were  joyfully  received  by 
Fleta  and  Nattee. 

As   we   walked    across    the    common,    I  observed    to 


8o  Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father 

Melchior,  *'I  wonder  if  these  stars  have  any  influence 
upon  mortals,  as  it  was  formerly  supposed  ? " 

"  Most  assuredly  they  have,"  rejoined  Melchior.  "  I 
cannot  read  them,  but  I  firmly  believe  in  them." 

I  made  the  above  remark,  as  I  had  often  thought  that 
such  was  Melchior's  idea. 

**  Yes,"  continued  he,  "  every  man  has  his  destiny — 
such  must  be  the  case.  It  is  known  beforehand  what  is 
to  happen  to  us  by  an  Omniscient  Being,  and  being  known, 
what  is  it  but  destiny  which  cannot  be  changed  ?  It  is 
fate^"*  continued  he,  surveying  the  stars  with  his  hand 
raised  up,  "and  that  fate  is  as  surely  written  there  as 
the  sun  shines  upon  us ;  but  the  great  book  is  sealed, 
because  it  would  not  add  to  our  happiness." 

"If,  then,  all  is  destiny,  or  fate,  what' inducement  is 
there  to  do  well  or  ill } "  replied  I.  "  "We  may  commit 
all  acts  of  evil,  and  say,  that  as  it  was  predestined,  we 
could  not  help  it.  Besides  would  it  be  just  that  the 
Omniscient  Being  should  punish  us  for  those  crimes  which 
we  cannot  prevent,  and  which  are  allotted  to  us  by 
destiny  } " 

"Japhet,  you  argue  well;  but  you  are  in  error, 
because,  like  most  of  those  of  the  Christian  Church,  you 
understand  not  the  sacred  writings,  nor  did  I  until  I  knew 
my  wife.  Her  creed  is,  I  believe,  correct ;  and  what  is 
more,  adds  weight  to  the  truths  of  the  Bible." 

"  I  thought  that  gipsies  had  no  religion." 

**  You  are  not  the  only  one  who  supposes  so.  It  is 
true  that  the  majority  of  the  tribe  are  held  by  the  higher 
castes  as  serfs,  and  are  not  instructed ;  but  with — if  I 
may  use  the  expression — the  aristocracy  of  them  it  is  very 
different,  and  their  creed  I  have  adopted." 

"  I  should  wish  to  hear  their  creed,"  replied  I. 

"Hear  it  then.  Original  sin  commenced  in  heaven — 
when  the  angels  rebelled  against  their  God  —  not  on 
earth." 

"  I  will  grant  that  sin  originated  first  in  heaven." 

"  Do  you  think  that  a  great,  a  good  God,  ever  created 


Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father  8i 

any  being  for  its  destruction  and  eternal  misery,  much 
less  an  angel  ?     Did  he  not  foresee  their  rebellion  ?  " 

"  I  grant  it." 

**  This  world  was  not  peopled  with  the  image  of  God 
until  after  the  fall  of  the  angels :  it  had  its  living  beings, 
its  monsters  perhaps,  but  not  a  race  of  men  with  eternal 
souls.  But  it  was  peopled,  as  we  see  it  now  is,  to  enable 
the  legions  of  angels  who  fell  to  return  to  their  former 
happy  state — as  a  pilgrimage  by  which  they  might  obtain 
their  pardons,  and  resume  their  seats  in  heaven.  Not  a 
child  is  born,  but  the  soul  of  some  fallen  cherub  enters 
into  the  body  to  work  out  its  salvation.  Many  do,  many 
do  not,  and  then  they  have  their  task  to  recommence 
anew  ;  for  the  spirit  once  created  is  immortal,  and  cannot 
be  destroyed  ;  and  the  Almighty  is  all  goodness,  and 
would  ever  pardon." 

"  Then  you  suppose  there  is  no  such  thing  as  eternal 
punishment  ? " 

"  Eternal ! — no.  Punishment  there  is,  but  not  eternal. 
When  the  legions  of  angels  fell,  some  were  not  so  perverse 
as  others  :  they  soon  re-obtained  their  seats,  even  when, 
as  children,  having  passed  through  the  slight  ordeal,  they 
have  been  summoned  back  to  heaven  ;  but  others  who, 
from  their  infancy,  show  how  bad  were  their  natures, 
have  many  pilgrimages  to  perform  before  they  can  be 
purified.  This  is,  in  itself,  a  punishment.  What  other 
punishment  they  incur  between  their  pilgrimages  we  know 
not  -,  but  this  is  certain,  that  no  one  was  created  to  be 
punished  eternally." 

"  But  all  this  is  but  assertion,"  replied  I ;  **  where  are 
your  proofs  ? " 

"  In  the  Bible  ;  some  day  or  other  I  will  show  them 
to  you ;  but  now  we  are  at  the  camp,  and  I  am  anxious 
to  embrace  Nattee." 

I  thought  for  some  time  upon  this  singular  creed ;  one, 
in  itself,  not  militating  against  religion,  but  at  the  same 
time  I  could  not  call  to  mind  any  passages  by  which  it 
could  be  supported.     Still  the  idea  was  beautiful,  and  I 

F  F 

A/ 


82  Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father 

dwelt  upon  it  with  pleasure.  I  have  before  observed, 
and  indeed  the  reader  must  have  gathered  from  my 
narative,  that  Melchior  was  no  common  personage.  Every 
day  did  I  become  more  partial  to  him,  and  more  pleased 
with  our  erratic  life.  What  scruples  I  had  at  first, 
gradually  wore  away;  the  time  passed  quickly,  and 
although  I  would  occasionally  call  to  mind  the  original 
object  of  my  setting  forth,  I  would  satisfy  myself  by 
the  reflection,  that  there  was  yet  sufficient  time.  Little 
Fleta  was  now  my  constant  companion  when  in  the  camp, 
and  I  amused  myself  with  teaching  her  to  write  and 
read. 

"  Japhet,'*  said  Timothy  to  me  one  day  as  we  were 
cutting  hazel  broach  wood  in  the  forest,  **  I  don't  see 
that  you  get  on  very  fast  in  your  search  after  your 
father." 

"  No,  Tim,  I  do  not ;  but  I  am  gaining  a  knowledge 
of  the  world  which  will  be  very  useful  to  me  when  I 
recommence  the  search ;  and  what  is  more,  I  am  saving 
a  great  deal  of  money  to  enable  me  to  prosecute  it." 

"What  did  Melchior  give  you  after  we  left  ?" 

**  Twenty  guineas,  which,  with  what  I  had  before, 
make  more  than  fifty." 

**  And  he  gave  me  ten,  which  makes  twenty,  with  what 
I  had  before.     Seventy  pounds  is  a  large  sum." 

**  Yes,  but  soon  spent,  Tim.  We  must  work  a  little 
longer.  Besides,  I  cannot  leave  that  little  girl — she  was 
never  intended  for  a  rope-dancer." 

"  I  am  glad  to  hear  you  say  that,  Japhet,  for  I  feel 
as  you  do — she  shall  share  our  fortunes." 

"  A  glorious  prospect  truly,"  replied  I,  laughing  ;  "  but 
never  mind,  it  would  be  better  than  her  remaining  here. 
But  how  are  we  to  manage  that  ? " 

"  Aye  !  that's  the  rub  ;  but  there  is  time  enough  to 
think  about  it  when  we  intend  to  quit  our  present 
occupation." 

"  Well,  I  understand  from  Melchior  that  we  are  to 
start  in  a  few  days." 


Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father  83 

"  What  is  it  to  be,  Japhet  ?  " 

"  Oh  !  we  shall  be  at  home — we  are  to  cure  all  diseases 
under  the  sun.  To-morrow  we  commence  making  pills, 
so  we  may  think  ourselves  with  Mr  Cophagus  again." 

"  Well,  I  do  think  we  shall  have  some  fun  j  but  I  hope 
Melchior  won't  make  me  take  my  own  pills  to  prove  their 
good  qualities — that  will  be  no  joke." 

"  O  no,  Num  is  kept  on  purpose  for  that.  What  else 
is  the  fool  good  for  ? " 

The  next  week  was  employed  as  we  anticipated.  Boxes 
of  pills  of  every  size,  neatly  labelled,  bottles  of  various 
mixtures,  chiefly  stimulants,  were  corked  and  packed  up. 
Powders  of  anything  were  put  in  papers  ;  but,  at  all  events, 
there  was  nothing  hurtful  in  them.  All  was  ready,  and 
accompanied  by  Num  (Jumbo  and  Fleta  being  left  at  home) 
we  set  off,  Melchior  assuming  the  dress  in  which  we  had 
first  met  him  in  the  wagon,  and  altering  his  appearance  so 
completely,  that  he  would  have  been  taken  for  at  least 
sixty  years  old.  We  now  travelled  on  foot  with  our 
dresses  in  bundles,  each  carrying  his  own,  except  Num, 
who  was  loaded  like  a  pack-horse,  and  made  sore  lamen- 
tations :  "  Can't  you  carry  some  of  this  ?  " 

"  No,"  replied  I,  "it  is  your  own  luggage;  every  one 
must  carry  his  own." 

"  Well,  I  never  felt  my  spangled  dress  so  heavy  before. 
Where  are  we  going  ?  " 

"  Only  a  little  way,"  replied  Timothy,  "  and  then  you 
will  have  nothing  more  to  do." 

"  I  don't  know  that.  When  master  puts  on  that  dress, 
I  have  to  swallow  little  things  till  I'm  sick." 

**  It's  all  good  for  your  health.  Num." 

' '  I'm  very  well,  I  thank'e,"  replied  the  poor  fellow ; 
**  but  I'm  very  hot  and  very  tired." 


84  Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father 


Chapter  XV 

In  which  Timothy  makes  a  grand  speech,  quite  as  true  as  those  delivered 
from  the  hustings — Melchior,  like  the  candidate,  states  his  pretentions  for 
public  favour,  and  the  public,  as  usual,  swallow  the  bait. 

Fortunately  for  poor  Num,  we  were  not  far  from  the 
market  town  at  which  we  intended  to  open  our  campaign, 
which  we  did  the  next  morning  by  Num  and  Timothy 
sallying  forth,  the  former  with  a  large  trumpet  in  his  hand, 
and  the  latter  riding  on  a  donkey.  On  their  arrival  at  the 
market-place,  Num  commenced  blowing  it  with  all  his 
might,  while  Timothy,  in  his  spangled  dress,  as  soon  as 
they  had  collected  a  crowd,  stood  upon  his  saddle,  and 
harangued  the  people  as  follows  : — 

"  Gentlemen  and  ladies — I  have  the  honour  to  announce 
to  you  the  arrival  in  this  town  of  the  celebrated  Doctor 
Appallacheosmocommetico,  who  has  travelled  farther  than 
the  sun  and  faster  than  a  comet.  He  hath  visited  every 
part  of  the  globe.  He  has  smoked  the  calumet  with  the 
Indians  of  North  America — he  has  hunted  with  the 
Araucas  in  the  South — galloped  on  wild  horses  over  the 
plains  of  Mexico,  and  rubbed  noses  with  the  Esquimaux. 
He  hath  used  the  chopsticks  with  the  Chinese,  swung  the 
Cherok  pooga  with  the  Hindoos,  and  put  a  new  nose  on 
the  Great  Cham  of  Tartary.  He  hath  visited  and  been 
received  in  every  court  of  Europe :  danced  on  the  ice  of 
the  Neva  with  the  Russians — led  the  mazurka  with  the 
Poles — waltzed  with  the  Germans — tarantulaed  with  the 
Italians — fandangoed  with  the  Spanish — and  quadrilled 
with  the  French.  He  hath  explored  every  mine  in  the 
universe,  walked  through  every  town  on  the  continent, 
examined  every  mountain  in  the  world,  ascended  Mont 
Blanc,  walked  down  the  Andes,  and  run  up  the  Pyrenees. 
He  has  been  into  every  volcano  in  the  globe,  and  descend- 
ing by  Vesuvius  has  been  thrown  up  by  Stromboli.  He 
has  lived  more  than  a  thousand  years,  and  is  still  in  the 


Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father  S^ 

flower  of  his  youth.  He  has  had  one  hundred  and  forty 
sets  of  teeth  one  after  another,  and  expects  a  new  set  next 
Christmas.  His  whole  life  has  been  spent  in  the  service 
of  mankind,  and  in  doing  good  to  his  fellow-creatures  ; 
and  having  the  experience  of  more  than  a  thousand  years, 
he  cures  more  than  a  thousand  diseases.  Gentlemen,  the 
wonderful  doctor  will  present  himself  before  you  this 
evening,  and  will  then  tell  you  what  his  remedies  are  good 
for,  so  that  you  may  pick  and  choose  according  to  your 
several  complaints.  Ladies,  the  wonderful  doctor  can 
greatly  assist  you  :  he  has  secrets  by  which  you  may  have 
a  family  if  you  should  so  wish — philters  to  make  husbands 
constant,  and  salve  to  make  them  blind — cosmetics  to 
remove  pimples  and  restore  to  youth  and  beauty,  and 
powders  to  keep  children  from  squalling.  Sound  the 
trumpet,  Philotas  ;  sound,  and  let  every  body  know  that 
the  wonderful  Doctor  Appallacheosmocommetico  has 
vouchsafed  to  stop  here  and  confer  his  blessings  upon  the 
inhabitants  of  this  town."  Hereupon  Num  again  blew  the 
trumpet  till  he  was  black  in  the  face  5  and  Timothy, 
dropping  on  his  donkey,  rode  away  to  other  parts  of  the 
town,  where  he  repeated  his  grandiloquent  announcement, 
followed,  as  may  be  supposed,  by  a  numerous  cortege  of 
little  ragged  boys. 

About  four  o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  Melchior  made  his 
appearance  in  the  market-place,  attended  by  me,  dressed  as 
a  German  student,  Timothy  and  Num  in  their  costumes. 
A  stage  had  been  already  prepared,  and  the  populace  had 
crowded  round  it  more  with  the  intention  of  laughing  than 
of  making  purchases.  The  various  packets  were  opened 
and  arranged  in  front  of  the  platform,  I  standing  on  one 
side  of  Melchior,  Timothy  on  the  other,  and  Num  with  his 
trumpet,  holding  on  by  one  of  the  scaffold  poles  at  the 
corner. 

"  Sound  the  trumpet,  Philotas,"  said  Melchior,  taking  off 
his  three-cornered  hat,  and  making  a  low  bov/  to  the 
audience,  at  every  blast.  **  Pray,  Mr  Fool,  do  you  know 
why  you  sound  the  trumpet  ?  " 


S6  Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father 

"I'm  sure  I  don't  know,"  replied  Num,  opening  his 
goggle  eyes. 

"  Do  you  know,  Mr  Dionysius  ?  " 

"  Yes,  sir,  I  can  guess." 

"  Explain,  then,  to  the  gentlemen  and  ladies  who  have 
honoured  us  with  their  presence." 

"Because,  sir,  trumpets  are  always  sounded  before 
great  conquerors." 

"  Very  true,  sir  ;  but  how  am  I  a  great  conqueror  ?  " 

"  You  have  conquered  death,  sir ;  and  he's  a  very  rum 
customer  to  have  to  deal  with." 

"  Dionysius,  you  have  answered  well,  and  shall  have 
some  bullock's  liver  for  your  supper — don't  forget  to 
remind  me,  in  case  I  forget  it." 

"  No,  that  I  won't,  sir,"  replied  Timothy,  rubbing  his 
stomach,  as  if  delighted  with  the  idea. 

"  Ladies  and  gentlemen,"  said  Melchior  to  the  audience, 
who  were  on  the  broad  grin,  "  I  see  your  mouths  are  all 
open,  and  are  waiting  for  the  pills ;  but  be  not  too  im- 
patient— I  cannot  part  with  my  medicines  unless  you  have 
diseases  which  require  their  aid ;  and  I  should,  indeed,  be 
a  sorry  doctor,  if  I  prescribed  without  knowing  your  com- 
plaints. Jist  neutrale  genus  signans  rem  non  animatam,  says 
Herodotus,  which  in  English  means,  what  is  one  man's 
meat  is  another  man's  poison ;  and  further,  he  adds,  Ut 
jecuvy  ut  onus,  put  ut  occiput,  which  is  as  much  as  to  say,  that 
what  agrees  with  one  temperament,  will  be  injurious  to 
another.  Caution,  therefore,  becomes  very  necessary  in 
the  use  of  medicine  ;  and  my  reputation  depends  upon  my 
not  permitting  any  one  to  take  what  is  not  good  for  him. 
And  now,  my  very  dear  friends,  I  will  first  beg  you  to 
observe  the  peculiar  qualities  of  the  contents  of  this  little 
phial.  You  observe,  that  there  is  not  more  than  sixty 
drops  in  it,  yet  wUl  these  sixty  drops  add  ten  years  to  a 
man's  life — for  it  will  cure  him  of  almost  as  many  diseases. 
In  the  first  place,  are  any  of  you  troubled  with  the  ascites, 
or  dropsy,  which,  as  the  celebrated  Galen  hath  declared, 
may  be  divided  into  three  parts,  the  ascites,  the  anasarca, 


Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father  87 

and  the  tympanites.  The  diagnostics  of  this  disease  are, 
swelling  of  the  abdomen  or  stomach,  difficulty  of  breathing, 
want  of  appetite,  and  a  teasing  cough.  I  say,  have  any  of 
you  this  disease  ?  None.  Then  I  thank  Heaven  that  you 
are  not  so  afflicted. 

"The  next  disease  it  is  good  for,  is  t]\Q peripneumonia,  or 
inflammation  on  the  lungs — the  diagnostics  or  symptoms  of 
which  are,  a  small  pulse,  swelling  of  the  eyes,  and  redness 
of  the  face.  Say,  have  any  of  you  these  symptoms — if  so, 
you  have  the  disease.  No  one.  I  thank  Heaven  that  you 
are  none  of  you  so  afflicted. 

"It  is  also  a  sovereign  remedy  for  the  diarrhoea,  the 
diagnostics  of  which  are,  faintness,  frequent  gripings, 
rumbling  in  the  bowels,  cold  sweats,  and  spasm." 

Here  one  man  came  forward  and  complained  of  frequent 
gripings — another  of  rumbling  in  the  bowels,  and  two  or 
three  more  of  cold  sweats. 

"It  is  well.  O  I  thank  Heaven  that  I  am  here  to 
administer  to  you  myself !  for  what  says  Hippocrates  ? 
Relativum  cum  antecedente  concordat,  which  means,  that 
remedies  quickly  applied,  kill  the  disease  in  its  birth. 
Here,  my  friends,  take  it — take  it — pay  me  only  one  shil- 
ling, and  be  thankful.  When  you  go  to  rest,  fail  not  to 
offer  up  your  prayers.  It  is  also  a  sovereign  remedy  for 
the  dreadful  chiragra  or  gout.  I  cured  the  whole  corpora- 
tion of  city  aldermen  last  week,  by  their  taking  three 
bottles  each,  and  they  presented  me  with  the  freedom  of 
the  city  of  London,  in  a  gold  box,  which  I  am  sorry  that  I 
have  forgotten  to  bring  with  me.  Now  the  chiragra  may 
be  divided  into  several  varieties.  Gonagra,  when  it  attacks 
the  knees — chiragra,  if  in  the  hands — onagra,  if  in  the  elbow 
— omagra,  if  in  the  shoulder,  and  lumbago,  if  in  the  back. 
All  these  are  varieties  of  gout,  and  for  all  these  the  contents 
of  this  little  bottle  is  a  sovereign  remedy ;  and,  observe,  it 
will  keep  for  ever.  Twenty  years  hence,  when  afflicted  in 
your  old  age — and  the  time  will  come,  my  good  people — 
you  may  take  down  this  little  phial  from  the  shelf,  and 
bless  the  hour  in  which  you  spent  your  shilling  ;  for  as 


88  Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father 

Eusebius  declares,  *  Verhum  personale  concordat  cum  nomina' 
tivoy  which  is  as  much  as  to  say,  the  active  will  grow  old, 
and  suffer  from  pains  in  their  limbs.  Who,  then,  has  pains 
in  his  limbs,  or  lumbago  ?  Who,  indeed,  can  say  that  he 
will  not  have  them  ? " 

After  this  appeal,  the  number  of  those  who  had  pains  in 
their  limbs,  or  who  wished  to  provide  against  such  a 
disease,  proved  so  great,  that  all  our  phials  were  disposed 
of,  and  the  doctor  was  obliged  to  promise  that  in  a  few 
days  he  would  have  some  more  of  this  invaluable  medicine 
ready. 

Ladies  and  gentlemen,  I  shall  now  offer  to  your  notice 
a  valuable  plaister,  the  effects  of  which  are  miraculous. 
Dionysius,  come  hither,  you  have  felt  the  benefit  of  this 
plaister  j  tell  your  case  to  those  who  are  present,  and  mind 
you  tell  the  truth." 

Hereupon  Timothy  stepped  forward.  **  Ladies  and 
gentlemen,  upon  my  honour ^  about  three  weeks  back  I  fell  off 
the  scaffold,  broke  my  back  bone  into  three  pieces,  and  was 
carried  off  to  a  surgeon,  who  looked  at  me,  and  told  the 
people  to  take  measure  for  my  coffin.  The  great  doctor 
was  not  there  at  the  time,  having  been  sent  for  to  consult 
with  the  king's  physicians  upon  the  queen's  case,  of  Co- 
phagus,  or  intermitting  mortification  of  the  great  toe ;  but 
fortunately,  just  as  they  were  putting  me  into  a  shell,  my 
master  came  back,  and  immediately  applying  his  sovereign 
plaister  to  my  back,  in  five  days  I  was  able  to  sit  up,  and 
in  ten  days  I  returned  to  my  duty." 

**  Are  you  quite  well  now,  Dionysius  ?" 

"  Quite  well,  sir,  and  my  back  is  like  whale-bone." 

"  Try  it." 

Hereupon  Dionysius  threw  two  somersets  forward,  two 
backward,  walked  across  the  stage  on  his  hands,  and 
tumbled  in  every  direction. 

"  You  see,  gentlemen,  I'm  quite  well  now,  and  what 
I  have  said,  I  assure  you,  on  my  honour,  to  be  a  fact." 

"  I  hope  you'll  allow  that  to  be  a  very  pretty  cure,"  said 
the  doctor,  appealing  to  the  audience ;  "  and  I  hardly  need 


Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father  89 

say,  that  for  sprains,  bruises,  contusions,  wrenches,  and 
dislocations,  this  plaister  is  infallible ;  and  I  will  surprise 
you  more  by  telling  you,  that  I  can  sell  it  for  eight-pence 
a  sheet." 

The  plaister  went  off  rapidly,  and  was  soon  expended. 
The  doctor  went  on  describing  his  other  valuable  articles, 
and  when  he  came  to  his  cosmetics,  &c.,  for  women,  we 
could  not  hand  them  out  fast  enough.  *'  And  now,"  said 
the  doctor,  "  I  must  bid  you  farewell  for  this  evening." 

"  I'm  glad  of  that,"  said  Timothy,  "  for  now  I  mean  to 
sell  my  own  medicine." 

"  Your  medicine,  Mr  Dionysius  !  what  do  you  mean  by 
that  ? " 

"  Mean,  sir ;  I  mean  to  say  that  I've  got  a  powder  of  my 
own  contriving,  which  is  a  sovereign  remedy." 

"  Remedy,  sir,  for  what } " 

"Why,  it's  a  powder  to  kill  fleas,  and  what's  more,  it's 
just  as  infallible  as  your  own." 

"  Have  you,  indeed ;  and  pray,  sir,  how  did  you  hit 
upon  the  invention  } " 

"  Sir,  I  discovered  it  in  my  sleep  by  accident ;  but  I 
have  proved  it,  and  I  will  say,  if  properly  administered,  it 
is  quite  as  infallible  as  any  of  yours.  Ladies  and  gentlemen, 
I  pledge  you  my  honour  that  it  will  have  the  effect  desired, 
and  all  I  ask  is  sixpence  a  powder." 

"  But  how  is  it  to  be  used,  sir  ? " 

"  Used — why,  like  all  other  powders  ;  but  I  won't  give 
the  directions  till  I  have  sold  some  ;  promising,  however, 
if  my  method  does  not  succeed,  to  return  the  money." 

"  Well,  that  is  fair,  Mr  Dionysius  ;  and  I  will  take  care 
that  you  keep  your  bargain.  Will  anybody  purchase  the 
fool's  powder  for  killing  fleas." 

"  Yes,  I  will,"  replied  a  man  on  the  broad  grin,  '*  here's 
sixpence.     Now,  then,  fool,  how  am  I  to  use  it  ?  " 

"  Use  it,"  said  Timothy,  putting  the  sixpence  in  his 
pocket ;  "I'll  explain  to  you.  You  must  first  catch  the  flea, 
hold  him  so  tight  between  the  forefinger  and  thumb  as  to 
force  him  to  open  his  mouth  j  when  his  mouth  is  open  you 


90  Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father 

must  put  a  very  little  of  this  powder  into  it,  and  it  will  kill 
him  directly." 

"  Why,  when  I  have  the  flea  as  tight  as  you  state,  I  may 
as  well  kill  him  myself." 

«  Very  true,  so  you  may,  if  you  prefer  it  j  but  if  you 
do  not,  you  may  use  this  powder,  which  upon  my  honour 
is  infallible." 

This  occasioned  a  great  deal  of  mirth  among  the 
bystanders.  Timothy  kept  his  sixpence,  and  our  exhibition 
for  this  day  ended,  very  much  to  the  satisfaction  of 
Melchior,  who  declared  he  had  taken  more  than  ever  he 
had  done  before  in  a  whole  week.  Indeed,  the  whole 
sum  amounted  to  £^IT,  los.,  all  taken  in  shillings  and 
sixpences,  for  articles  hardly  worth  the  odd  shillings  in  the 
account ;  so  we  sat  down  to  supper  with  anticipations  of  a 
good  harvest,  and  so  it  proved.  We  stayed  four  days  at 
this  town,  and  then  proceeded  onwards,  when  the  like 
success  attended  us,  Timothy  and  I  being  obliged  to  sit  up 
nearly  the  whole  night  to  label  and  roll  up  pills,  and  mix 
medicines,  which  we  did  in  a  very  scientific  manner.  Nor 
was  it  always  that  Melchior  presided  ;  he  would  very  often 
tell  his  audience  that  business  required  his  attendance  else- 
where, to  visit  the  sick,  and  that  he  left  the  explanation  of 
his  medicines  and  their  properties  to  his  pupil,  who  was  far 
advanced  in  knowledge.  With  my  prepossessing  appearance, 
I  made  a  great  effect,  more  especially  among  the  ladies,  and 
Timothy  exerted  himself  so  much  when  with  me,  that  we 
never  failed  to  bring  home  to  Melchior  a  great  addition  to  his 
earnings — so  much  so,  that  at  last  he  only  showed  himself, 
pretended  that  he  was  so  importuned  to  visit  sick  persons, 
that  he  could  stay  no  longer,  and  then  left  us,  after  the 
first  half  hour,  to  carry  on  the  business  for  him.  After  six 
weeks  of  uninterrupted  success,  we  returned  to  the  camp, 
which,  as  usual,  was  not  very  far  off. 


Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father  91 


Chapter   XVI 

Important  news,  but  not  communicated — A  dissolution  of  partnership  takes 

place. 

Melchior's  profits  had  been  much  more  than  he  antici- 
pated, and  he  was  very  liberal  to  Timothy  and  myself; 
indeed,  he  looked  upon  me  as  his  right  hand,  and  became 
more  intimate  and  attached  every  day.  We  were,  of 
course,  delighted  to  return  to  the  camp,  after  our  excursion. 
There  was  so  much  continued  bustle  and  excitement  in  our 
peculiar  profession,  that  a  little  quiet  was  delightful ;  and 
I  never  felt  more  happy  than  when  Fleta  threw  herself  into 
my  arms,  and  Nattee  came  forward  with  her  usual  dignity 
and  grace,  but  with  more  than  usual  condescendence  and 
kindness,  bidding  me  welcome  home.  Home — alas  !  it  was 
never  meant  for  my  home,  or  poor  Fleta's — and  that  I  felt. 
It  was  our  sojourn  for  a  time,  and  no  more. 

We  had  been  more  than  a  year  exercising  our  talents  in 
this  lucrative  manner,  when  one  day,  as  I  was  sitting  at 
the  entrance  to  the  tent,  with  a  book  in  my  hand,  out  of 
which  Fleta  was  reading  to  me,  a  gipsy  not  belonging  to 
our  gang  made  his  appearance.  He  was  covered  with 
dust,  and  the  dew  drops  hanging  on  his  dark  forehead, 
proved  that  he  had  travelled  fast.  He  addressed  Nattee, 
who  was  standing  by,  in  their  own  language,  which  I 
did  not  understand ;  but  I  perceived  that  he  asked  for 
Melchior.  After  an  exchange  of  a  few  sentences,  Nattee 
expressed  astonishment  and  alarm,  put  her  hands  over  her 
face,  and  removed  them  as  quickly,  as  if  derogatory  in  her 
to  show  emotion,  and  then  remained  in  deep  thought. 
Perceiving  Melchior  approaching,  the  gipsy  hastened  to 
him,  and  they  were  soon  in  animated  conversation.  In  ten 
minutes  it  was  over  :  the  gipsy  went  to  the  running  brook, 
washed  his  face,  took  a  large  draught  of  water,  and  then 
hastened  away  and  was  soon  out  of  sight. 

Melchior,  who  had  watched  the  departure  of  the  gipsy. 


92  Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father 

slowly  approached  us.  I  observed  him  and  Nattee,  as  they 
met,  as  I  was  certain  that  something  important  had  taken 
place.  Melchior  fixed  his  eyes  upon  Nattee — she  looked 
at  him  mournfully — folded  her  arms,  and  made  a  slight 
bow  as  if  in  submission,  and  in  a  low  voice,  quoted  from 
the  Scriptures,  "Whither  thou  goest,  I  will  go — thy 
people  shall  be  my  people,  and  thy  God  my  God."  He 
then  walked  away  with  her  :  they  sat  down  apart,  and  were 
in  earnest  conversation  for  more  than  an  hour. 

"  Japhet,"  said  Melchior  to  me,  after  he  had  quitted  his 
wife,  "  what  I  am  about  to  tell  you  will  surprise  you 
I  have  trusted  you  with  all  I  dare  trust  any  one,  but  there 
are  some  secrets  in  every  man's  life  which  had  better  be 
reserved  for  himself  and  her  who  is  bound  to  him  by 
solemn  ties.  We  must  now  part.  In  a  few  days  this 
camp  will  be  broken  up,  and  these  people  will  join  some 
other  division  of  the  tribe.  For  me,  you  will  see  me  no 
more.     Ask  me  not  to  explain,  for  I  cannot." 

"  And  Nattee,"  said  I. 

**  Will  follow  my  fortunes,  whatever  they  may  be — you 
will  see  her  no  more." 

"  For  myself  I  care  not,  Melchior  ;  the  world  is  before 
me,  and  remain  with  the  gipsies  without  you  I  will  not ', 
but  answer  me  one  question — what  is  to  become  of  little 
Fleta  ?  Is  she  to  remain  with  the  tribe,  to  which  she  does 
not  belong,  or  does  she  go  with  you  ? " 

Melchior  hesitated.  "I  hardly  can  answer,  but  what 
consequence  can  the  welfare  of  a  soldier's  brat  be  to 
you  ? " 

"  Allowing  her  to  be  what  you  assert,  Melchior,  I  am 
devotedly  attached  to  that  child,  and  could  not  bear  that 
she  should  remain  here.  I  am  sure  that  you  deceived  me 
in  what  you  stated,  for  the  child  remembers,  and  has  told 
me,  anecdotes  of  her  infancy,  which  proves  that  she  is  of 
no  mean  family,  and  that  she  has  been  stolen  from  her 
friends." 

"  Indeed,  is  her  memory  so  good  ? "  replied  Melchior, 
firmly  closing  his  teeth.  "  To  Nattee  or  to  me  she  has 
never  hinted  so  much." 


Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father  93 

**  That  is  very  probable ;  but  a  stolen  child  she  is, 
Melchior,  and  she  must  not  remain  here." 

*'Must  not." 

**  Yes  5  must  not,  Melchior  ;  when  you  quit  the  tribe, 
you  will  no  longer  have  any  power,  nor  can  you  have  any 
interest  about  her.  She  shall  then  choose — if  she  will 
come  with  me,  I  ivill  take  her,  and  nothing  shall  prevent 
me ;  and  in  so  doing  I  do  you  no  injustice,  nor  do  I  swerve 
in  my  fidelity." 

**  How  do  you  know  that  ?  I  may  have  my  secret 
reasons  against  it." 

"  Surely  you  can  have  no  interest  in  a  soldier's  brat, 
Melchior  ? " 

Melchior  appeared  confused  and  annoyed.  **  She  is 
no  soldier's  brat ;  I  acknowledge,  Japhet,  that  the  child 
was  stolen  ;  but  you  must  not,  therefore,  imply  that  the 
child  was  stolen  by  me  or  by  my  wife." 

**  I  never  accused  you,  or  thought  you  capable  of  it ; 
and  that  is  the  reason  why  I  am  now  surprised  at  the 
interest  you  take  in  her.  If  she  prefers  to  go  with  you, 
I  have  no  more  to  say,  but  if  not,  I  claim  her  ;  and  if  she 
consents,  will  resist  your  interference." 

"  Japhet,"  replied  Melchior,  after  a  pause,  "  we  must 
not  quarrel  now  that  we  are  about  to  part.  I  will  give 
you  an  answer  in  half  an  hour." 

Melchior  returned  to  Nattee,  and  recommenced  a  con- 
versation with  her,  while  I  hastened  to  Fleta. 

"  Fleta,  do  you  know  that  the  camp  is  to  be  broken  up, 
and  Melchior  and  Nattee  leave  it  together  ?  " 

"Indeed!"  replied  she,  with  surprise.  "Then  what 
is  to  become  of  you  and  Timothy  ?  " 

*'  We  must  of  course  seek  our  fortunes  where  we  can." 

**  And  of  me  ?  "  continued  she,  looking  me  earnestly 
in  the  face  with  her  large  blue  eyes.  *'  Am  I  to  stay 
here  ?  "  continued  she,  with  alarm  in  her  countenance. 

**  Not  if  you  do  not  wish  it,  Fleta :  as  long  as  I  can 
support  you  I  will — that  is,  if  you  would  like  to  live  with 
me  in  preference  to  Melchior." 


94  Ja-phet,  in  Search  of  a  Father 

**  If  I  would  like,  Japhet ;  you  must  know  I  would  like 
— who  has  been  so  kind  to  me  as  you  ?  Don't  leave  me, 
Japhet." 

"  I  will  not,  Fleta ;  but  on  condition  that  you  promise 
to  be  guided  by  me,  and  to  do  all  I  wish." 

"To  do  what  you  wish  is  the  greatest  pleasure  that 
I  have,  Japhet — so  I  may  safely  promise  that.  What  has 
happened  ? " 

"  That  I  do  not  know  more  than  yourself;  but  Melchior 
tells  me  that  he  and  Nattee  quit  the  gipsy  tents  for  ever." 

Fleta  looked  round  to  ascertain  if  any  one  was  near  us, 
and  then  in  a  low  tone  said,  "  I  understand  their  language, 
Japhet,  that  is,  a  great  deal  of  it,  although  they  do  not 
think  so,  and  I  overheard  what  the  gipsy  said  in  part, 
although  he  was  at  some  distance.  He  asked  for  Melchior ; 
and  when  Nattee  wanted  to  know  what  he  wanted,  he 
answered  that,  *  he  was  dead ; '  then  Nattee  covered  up  her 
face.  I  could  not  hear  all  the  rest,  but  there  was  some- 
thing about  a  horseP 

He  was  dead.  Had  then  Melchior  committed  murder, 
and  was  obliged  to  fly  the  country  ?  This  appeared  to  me 
to  be  the  most  probable,  when  I  collected  the  facts  in  my 
possession ;  and  yet  I  could  not  believe  it,  for  except 
that  system  of  deceit  necessary  to  carry  on  his  various 
professions,  I  never  found  anything  in  Melchior's  conduct 
which  could  be  considered  as  criminal.  On  the  contrary, 
he  was  kind,  generous,  and  upright  in  his  private  dealings, 
and  in  many  points,  proved  that  he  had  a  good  heart. 
He  was  a  riddle  of  inconsistency  it  was  certain  j  profes- 
sionally he  would  cheat  anybody,  and  disregard  all  truth 
and  honesty  •,  but,  in  his  private  character,  he  was 
scrupulously  honest,  and,  with  the  exception  of  the 
assertion  relative  to  Fleta's  birth  and  parentage,  he  had 
never  told  me  a  lie,  that  I  could  discover.  I  was  summing 
up  all  these  reflections  in  my  mind,  when  Melchior  again 
came  up  to  me,  and  desiring  the  little  girl  to  go  away,  he 
said,  "  Japhet,  I  have  resolved  to  grant  your  request  with 
respect  to  Fleta,  but  it  must  be  on  conditions." 


Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father  95 

'*  Let  me  hear  them." 

"  First,  then,  Japhet,  as  you  always  have  been  honest 
and  confiding  with  me,  tell  me  now  what  are  your  inten- 
tions. Do  you  mean  to  follow  up  the  profession  which 
you  learnt  under  me,  or  what  do  you  intend  to  do  ? " 

"  Honestly,  then,  Melchior,  I  do  not  intend  to  follow 
up  that  profession,  unless  driven  to  it  by  necessity.  I 
intend  to  seek  my  father." 

*'  And  if  driven  to  it  by  necessity,  do  you  intend  that 
Fleta  shall  aid  you  by  her  acquirements  ?  In  short,  do  you 
mean  to  take  her  with  you  as  a  speculation,  to  make  the 
most  of  her,  to  let  her  sink,  when  she  arrives  at  the  age  of 
woman,  into  vice  and  misery  ? " 

**  I  wonder  at  your  asking  me  that  question,  Melchior ; 
it  is  the  first  act  of  injustice  I  have  received  at  your  hands. 
No ;  if  obliged  to  follow  up  the  profession,  I  will  not 
allow  Fleta  so  to  do.  I  would  sooner  that  she  were  in  her 
grave.  It  is  to  rescue  her  from  that  very  vice  and  misery, 
to  take  her  out  of  a  society  in  which  she  never  ought  to 
have  been  placed,  that  I  take  her  with  me." 

**  And  this  upon  your  honour  ?" 

"  Yes,  upon  my  honour.  I  love  her  as  my  sister,  and 
cannot  help  indulging  in  the  hope  that  in  seeking  my 
father,  I  may  chance  to  stumble  upon  her's." 

Melchior  bit  his  lips.  **  There  is  another  promise 
I  must  exact  from  you,  Japhet,  which  is,  that  to  a 
direction  which  I  will  give  you,  every  six  months  you  will 
inclose  an  address  where  you  may  be  heard  of,  and  also 
intelligence  as  to  Fleta's  welfare  and  health." 

*'  To  that  I  gave  my  cheerful  promise :  but,  Melchior, 
you  appear  to  have  taken,  all  at  once,  a  strange  interest 
in  this  little  girl." 

"  I  wish  you  now  to  think  that  I  do  take  an  interest  in 
her,  provided  you  seek  not  to  inquire  the  why  and  the 
wherefore.   Will  you  accept  of  funds  for  her  maintenance?" 

"  Not  without  necessity  compels  me  ;  and  then  I  should 
be  glad  to  find,  when  I  can  no  longer  help  her,  that  you 
are  still  her  friend." 


g6  Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father 

"  Recollect,  that  you  will  always  find  what  is  requisite 
by  writing  to  the  address  which  I  shall  give  you  before 
we  part.  That  point  is  now  settled,  and  on  the  whole 
I  think  the  arrangement  is  good." 

Timothy  had  been  absent  during  the  events  of  the 
morning — when  he  returned,  I  communicated  to  him  what 
had  passed,  and  was  about  to  take  place. 

"Well,  Japhet,  I  don't  know — I  do  not  dislike  our 
present  life,  yet  I  am  not  sorry  to  change  it ;  but  what 
are  we  to  do  ? " 

"  That  remains  to  be  considered ;  we  have  a  good  stock 
of  money,  fortunately,  and  we  must  husband  it  till  we  find 
what  can  be  done." 

We  took  our  suppers  all  together  for  the  last  time, 
Melchior  telling  us  that  he  had  determined  to  set  off  the 
next  day  Nattee  looked  very  melancholy,  but  resigned ; 
on  the  contrary,  little  Fleta  was  so  overjoyed,  that  her 
face,  generally  so  mournful,  was  illuminated  with  smiles 
whenever  our  eyes  met.  It  was  delightful  to  see  her  so 
happy.  The  whole  of  the  people  in  the  camp  had  retired, 
and  Melchior  was  busy  making  his  arrangements  in  the 
tent.  I  did  not  feel  inclined  to  sleep ;  I  was  thinking  and 
revolving  in  my  mind  my  prospects  for  the  future ;  sitting, 
or  rather  lying  down,  for  I  was  leanhig  on  my  elbow,  at  a 
short  distance  from  the  tents.  The  night  was  dark  but 
clear,  and  the  stars  were  brilliant.  I  had  been  watching 
them,  and  I  thought  upon  Melchior's  ideas  of  destiny,  and 
dwelling  on  the  futile  wish  that  I  could  read  mine,  when 
I  perceived  the  approach  of  Nattee. 

"  Japhet,"  said  she,  "  you  are  to  take  the  little  girl  with 
you,  I  find — will  you  be  careful  of  her  ?  for  it  would  be 
on  my  conscience  if  she  were  left  to  the  mercy  of  the 
world.  She  departs  rejoicing,  let  not  her  joy  end  in  tears. 
I  depart  sorrowing.  I  leave  my  people,  my  kin,  my  habits, 
and  customs,  my  influence,  all — but  it  must  be  so,  it  is  my 
destiny.  She  is  a  good  child,  Japhet — promise  me  that 
you  will  be  a  friend  to  her — and  give  her  this  to  wear 
in  remembrance  of  me,  but not  yet — not  till  we  are 


Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father  97 

gone .'*     She  hesitated.     "  Japhet,  do  not  let  Melchior 

see  it  in  your  possession ;  he  may  not  like  me  having 
given  it  away."  I  took  the  piece  of  paper  containing  the 
present,  and  having  promised  all  she  required,  "This  is 
the  last — yes — the  very  last  time  that  I  may  behold  this 
scene,"  continued  Nattee,  surveying  the  common,  the  tents, 
and  the  animals  browsing.  "Be  it  so 5  Japhet,  good- 
night, may  you  prosper ! "  She  then  turned  away  and 
entered  her  tent ;  and  soon  afterwards  I  followed  her 
example. 

The  next  day,  Melchior  was  all  ready.  What  he  had 
packed  up  was  contained  in  two  small  bundles.  He 
addressed  the  people  belonging  to  the  gang,  in  their  own 
language.  Nattee  did  the  same,  and  the  whole  of  them 
kissed  her  hand.  The  tents,  furniture,  and  the  greatest 
part  of  his  other  property,  were  distributed  among  them. 
Jumbo  and  Num  were  made  over  to  two  of  the  principal 
men.  Timothy,  Fleta,  and  I,  were  also  ready,  and 
intended  to  quit  at  the  same  time  as  Melchior  and  his 
wife. 

"Japhet,"  said  Melchior,  "there  is  yet  some  money  due 
to  you  for  our  last  excursion — (this  was  true,)~here  it  is 
— you  and  Timothy  keep  but  one  purse,  I  am  aware. 
Good-bye,  and  may  you  prosper !  " 

We  shook  hands  with  Nattee  and  Melchior.  Fleta  went 
up  to  the  former,  and  crossing  her  arms,  bent  her  head. 
Nattee  kissed  the  child,  and  led  her  to  Melchior.  He 
stooped  down,  kissed  her  on  the  forehead,  and  I  perceived 
a  sign  of  strongly  suppressed  emotion  as  he  did  so.  Our 
intended  routes  lay  in  a  different  direction,  and  when  both 
parties  had  arrived  to  either  verge  of  the  common,  we 
waved  our  hands  as  a  last  farewell,  and  resumed  our  paths 
again.  Fleta  burst  into  tears  as  she  turned  away  from  her 
former  guardians. 


98  Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father 


Chapter   XVII 

A  Cabinet  Council — I  resolve  to  set  up  as  a  gentleman,  having  as  legitimate 
pretensions  to  the  rank  of  one  as  many  others. 

I  LED  the  little  sobbing  girl  by  the  hand,  and  we  proceeded 
for  some  time  in  silence.  It  was  not  until  we  gained  the 
high  road  that  Timothy  interrupted  my  reverie,  by  observ- 
ing, "Japhet,  have  you  at  all  made  up  your  mind  what 
you  shall  do  ? " 

"I  have  been  reflecting,  Timothy.  We  have  lost  a 
great  deal  of  time.  The  original  intention  with  which  I 
left  London  has  been  almost  forgotten ;  but  it  must  be  so 
no  longer.  I  now  have  resolved  that  as  soon  as  I  have 
placed  this  poor  little  girl  in  safety,  that  I  will  prosecute 
my  search,  and  never  be  diverted  from  it." 

"  I  cannot  agree  with  you  that  we  have  lost  time, 
Japhet  •,  we  had  very  little  money  when  we  started  upon 
our  expedition,  and  now  we  have  sufficient  to  enable  you 
to  prosecute  your  plans  for  a  long  time.  The  question  is, 
in  what  direction  ?  We  quitted  London,  and  travelled 
west,  in  imitation,  as  we  thought,  of  the  nvise  men.  With 
all  deference,  in  my  opinion,  it  was  like  tivo  fools. ^^ 

**  I  have  been  thinking  upon  that  point  also,  Tim,  and  I 
agree  with  you.  I  expect,  from  several  causes,  which  you 
know  as  well  as  I  do,  to  find  my  father  among  the  higher 
classes  of  society ;  and  the  path  we  took  when  we  started 
has  led  us  into  the  very  lowest.  It  appears  to  me  that  we 
cannot  do  better  than  retrace  our  steps.  We  have  the 
means  now  to  appear  as  gentlemen,  and  to  mix  in  good 
company ;  and  London  is  the  very  best  place  for  us  to 
repair  to." 

**  That  is  precisely  my  opinion,  Japhet,  with  one  single 
exception,  which  I  will  mention  to  you ;  but  first  tell  me, 
have  you  calculated  what  our  joint  purses  may  amount  to  ? 
It  must  be  a  very  considerable  sum." 

I  had  not  examined  the  packet  in  which  was  the  money 


Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father  99 

which  Melchior  had  given  me  at  parting.  I  now  opened 
it,  and  found,  to  my  surprise,  that  there  were  Bank  notes 
to  the  amount  of  one  hundred  pounds.  I  felt  that  he  had 
given  me  this  large  sum  that  it  might  assist  me  in  Fleta's 
expenses.  "  With  this  sum,"  said  I,  *'  I  cannot  have  much 
less  than  two  hundred  and  fifty  pounds." 

**  And  I  have  more  than  sixty,"  said  Timothy.  *'  Really, 
the  profession  was  not  unprofitable." 

"  No,"  replied  I,  laughing ;  "  but  recollect,  Tim,  that 
we  had  no  outlay.  The  public  provided  us  with  food,  our 
lodging  cost  us  nothing.  We  have  had  no  taxes  to  pay  ; 
and  at  the  same  time  have  taxed  folly  and  credulity  to  a 
great  extent." 

"  That's  true,  Japhet ;  and  although  I  am  glad  to  have 
the  money,  I  am  not  sorry  that  we  have  abandoned  the 
profession." 

"Nor  am  I,  Tim;  if  you  please,  we  will  forget  it 
altogether.  But  tell  me,  what  was  the  exception  you 
were  about  to  make  ? " 

"Simply  this.  Although  upwards  of  three  hundred 
pounds  may  be  a  great  deal  of  money,  yet,  if  we  are  to 
support  the  character  and  appearance  of  gentlemen,  it  will 
not  last  for  ever.  For  instance,  we  must  have  our  valets. 
What  an  expense  that  will  be  I  Our  clothes  too — we 
shall  soon  lose  our  rank  and  station  in  society,  without  we 
obtain  a  situation  under  government." 

"  We  must  make  it  last  as  long  as  we  can,  Timothy , 
and  trust  to  good  fortune  to  assist  us." 

"  That's  all  very  well,  Japhet  \  but  I  had  rather  trust  to 
our  own  prudence.  Now  hear  what  I  have  to  say.  You 
will  be  as  much  assisted  by  a  trusty  valet  as  by  any  other 
means.  I  shall,  as  a  gentleman,  be  only  an  expense  and 
an  incumbrance ;  but  as  a  valet  I  shall  be  able  to  play  into 
your  hands,  at  the  same  time  more  than  one  half  the 
expense  will  be  avoided.  With  your  leave,  therefore,  I 
will  take  my  proper  situation,  put  on  your  livery,  and 
thereby  make  myself  of  the  greatest  use." 

I  could  not  help  acknowledging  the  advantages  to  be 


loo  Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father 

derived  from  this  proposal  of  Timothy's ;  but  I  did  not 
like  to  accept  it. 

"It  is   very  kind  of  you,  Timothy,"  replied  I;    "but 
I  can  only  look  upon  you  as  a  friend  and  an  equal." 

"There  you  are  right  and  are  wrong  in  the  same 
breath.  You  are  right  in  looking  upon  me  as  a  friend, 
Japhet ;  and  you  would  be  still  more  right  in  allowing 
me  to  prove  my  friendship  as  I  propose;  but  you  are 
wrong  in  looking  upon  me  as  an  equal,  for  I  am  not 
so  either  in  personal  appearance,  education,  or  anything 
else.  We  are  both  foundlings,  it  is  true ;  but  you  were 
christened  after  Abraham  Newland,  and  I  after  the  work- 
house pump.  You  were  a  gentleman  foundling,  presenting 
yourself  with  a  fifty  pound  note,  and  good  clothes.  I 
made  my  appearance  in  rags  and  misery.  If  you  find 
your  parents,  you  will  rise  in  the  world  ;  if  I  find  mine, 
I  shall,  in  all  probability,  have  no  reason  to  be  proud  of 
them.  I  therefore  must  insist  upon  having  my  own 
choice  in  the  part  I  am  to  play  in  the  drama,  and  I  will 
prove  to  you  that  it  is  my  right  to  choose.  You  forget 
that,  when  we  started,  your  object  was  to  search  after 
your  father,  and  I  told  you  mine  should  be  to  look  after 
my  mother.  You  have  selected  high  life  as  the  expected 
sphere  in  which  he  is  to  be  found,  and  I  select  low  life 
as  that  in  which  I  am  most  likely  to  discover  the  object 
of  my  search.  So  you  perceive,"  continued  Tim,  laughing, 
"  that  we  must  arrange  so  as  to  suit  the  views  of  both 
without  parting  company.  Do  you  hunt  among  bag-wigs, 
amber-headed  canes,  silks  and  satins — I  will  burrow 
among  tags  and  tassels,  dimity  and  mob  caps ;  and 
probably  we  shall  both  succeed  in  the  object  of  our 
search.  I  leave  you  to  hunt  in  the  drawing-rooms, 
while  I  ferret  in  the  kitchen.  You  may  throw  yourself 
on  a  sofa  and  exclaim — *  Who  is  my  father  ? '  while  I 
will  sit  in  the  cook's  lap,  and  ask  her  if  she  may  happen 
to  be  my  mother." 

This   sally  of  Timothy's  made  even  Fleta  laugh;  and 
after   a   little   more    remonstrance,    I   consented   that   he 


Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father  loi 

should  perform  the  part  of  my  valet.  Indeed,  the  more 
I  reflected  upon  it,  the  greater  appeared  the  advantages 
which  might  accrue  from  the  arrangement.  By  the  time 
that  this  point  had  been  settled,  we  had  arrived  at  the 
town  to  which  we  directed  our  steps,  and  took  up  our 
quarters  at  an  inn  of  moderate  pretensions,  but  of  very 
great  external  cleanliness.  My  first  object  was  to  find 
out  some  fitting  asylum  for  little  Fleta.  The  landlady 
was  a  buxom,  good-tempered  young  woman,  and  I  gave 
the  little  girl  into  her  charge,  while  Timothy  and  I  went 
out  on  a  survey.  I  had  made  up  my  mind  to  put  her 
to  some  good,  but  not  very  expensive,  school,  if  such 
were  to  be  found  in  the  vicinity.  I  should  have  preferred 
taking  her  with  me  to  London,  but  I  was  aware  how 
much  more  expensive  it  would  be  to  provide  for  her 
there ,  and  as  the  distance  from  the  metropolis  was  but 
twenty  miles,  I  could  easily  run  down  to  see  her  occasion- 
ally. I  desired  the  little  girl  to  call  me  her  brother,  as 
such  I  intended  to  be  to  her  in  future,  and  not  to  answer 
every  question  they  might  put  to  her.  There  was,  how- 
ever, little  occasion  for  this  caution  ;  for  Fleta  was,  as 
I  before  observed,  very  unlike  children  in  general.  I 
then  went  out  with  Timothy  to  look  for  a  tailor,  that 
I  might  order  our  clothes,  as  what  we  had  on  were  not 
either  of  the  very  best  taste,  or  in  the  very  best  condition. 
We  walked  up  the  main  street,  and  soon  fell  in  with  a 
tailor's  shop,  over  which  was  written  in  large  letters — 
'*  Feodor  Shneider,  Tailor  to  his  Royal  Highness  the 
Prince  of  Darmstadt," 

"Will  that  do,  Japhet?"  said  Timothy,  pointing  to 
the  announcement. 

"  Why  yes,"  replied  I  j  "  but  how  the  deuce  the  Prince 
of  Darmstadt  should  have  employed  a  man  in  a  small 
country  town  as  his  tailor,  is  to  me  rather  a  puzzle." 

"  Perhaps  he  made  his  clothes  when  he  was  in 
Germany,"  replied  Tim. 

*' Perhaps  he  did;  but,  however,  he  shall  have  the 
honour  of  making  mine." 


102  Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father 

We  entered  the  shop,  and  I  ordered  a  suit  of  the  most 
fashionable  clothes,  choosing  my  colours,  and  being  very 
minute  in  my  directions  to  the  foreman,  who  measured 
me;  but  as  I  was  leaving  the  shop  the  master,  judging 
by  my  appearance,  which  was  certainly  not  exactly  that 
of  a  gentleman,  ventured  to  observe  that  it  was  customary 
with  gentlemen,  whom  they  had  not  the  honour  of  knowing, 
to  leave  a  deposit.  Although  the  very  proposal  was  an 
attack  upon  my  gentility,  I  made  no  reply ;  but  pulling 
out  a  handful  of  guineas,  laid  down  two  on  the  counter, 
and  walked  away,  that  I  might  find  another  shop  at  which 
we  might  order  the  livery  of  Timothy ;  but  this  was  only 
as  a  reconnoitre,  as  I  did  not  intend  to  order  his  liveries 
until  I  could  appear  in  my  own  clothes,  which  were 
promised  on  the  afternoon  of  the  next  day.  There  were, 
however,  several  other  articles  to  be  purchased,  such  as 
a  trunk,  portmanteau,  hat,  gloves,  &c.,  all  which  we 
procured,  and  then  went  back  to  the  inn.  On  my  return 
I  ordered  dinner.  Fleta  was  certainly  clad  in  her  best 
frock,  but  bad  was  the  best ;  and  the  landlady,  who 
could  extract  little  from  the  child,  could  not  imagine  who 
we  could  be.  I  had,  however,  allowed  her  to  see  more 
than  sufficient  money  to  warrant  our  expenses ;  and  so 
far  her  scruples  were,  although  her  curiosity  was  not, 
removed. 

That  evening  I  had  a  long  conversation  with  Fleta. 
I  told  her  that  we  were  to  part,  that  she  must  go  to 
school,  and  that  I  would  very  often  come  down  to  see 
her.  At  first,  she  was  inconsolable  at  the  idea;  but  I 
reasoned  with  her,  and  the  gentle,  intelligent  creature 
acknowledged  that  it  was  right.  The  next  day  my 
clothes  came  home,  and  I  dressed  myself.  "Without 
flattery,  Japhet,"  said  Timothy,  "you  do  look  very  much 
like  a  gentleman."  Fleta  smiled,  and  said  the  same. 
I  thought  so  too,  but  said  nothing.  Putting  on  my  hat 
and  gloves,  and  accompanied  by  Timothy,  I  descended 
to  go  out  and  order  Tim's  liveries,  as  well  as  a  fit-out 
for  Fleta. 


Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father  103 

After  I  was  out  in  the  street  I  discovered  that  I  had  left 
my  handkerchief,  and  returned  to  fetch  it.  The  landlady, 
seeing  a  gentleman  about  to  enter  the  inn,  made  a  very 
low  courtesy,  and  it  was  not  until  I  looked  hard  at  her 
that  she  recognised  me.  Then  I  was  satisfied ;  it  was  an 
involuntary  tribute  to  my  appearance,  worth  all  the  flatter- 
ing assertions  in  the  world.  We  now  proceeded  to  the  other 
tailor's  in  the  main  street.  I  entered  the  shop  with  a 
flourishing,  important  air,  and  was  received  with  many 
bows.  "  I  wish,"  said  I,  "  to  have  a  suit  of  livery  made 
for  this  young  man,  who  is  about  to  enter  into  my  service. 
I  cannot  take  him  up  to  town  this  figure."  The  livery 
was  chosen,  and  as  I  expressed  my  wish  to  be  off  the  next 
evening,  it  was  promised  to  be  ready  by  an  hour  appointed. 

I  then  went  to  a  milliner's,  and  desired  that  she  would 
call  at  the  inn  to  fit  out  a  little  girl  for  school,  whose 
wardrobe  had  been  left  behind  by  mistake.  On  the  fourth 
day  all  was  ready.  I  had  made  inquiries,  and  found  out 
a  very  respectable  school,  kept  by  a  widow  lady.  I  asked 
for  references,  which  were  given,  and  I  was  satisfied. 
The  terms  were  low — twenty  pounds  per  annum.  I  paid 
the  first  half  year  in  advance,  and  lodged  fifty  guineas 
more  in  the  hands  of  a  banker,  taking  a  receipt  for  it,  and 
giving  directions  that  it  was  to  be  paid  to  the  school- 
mistress as  it  became  due.  I  took  this  precaution,  that 
should  I  be  in  poverty  myself,  at  all  events  Fleta  might 
be  provided  in  clothes  and  schooling  for  three  years  at 
least.  The  poor  child  wept  bitterly  at  the  separation,  and 
I  could  with  difiiculty  detach  her  little  arms  from  my  neck, 
and  I  felt  when  I  left  her  as  if  I  had  parted  with  the  only 
valuable  object  to  me  on  earth. 

All  was  now  ready  j  but  Timothy  did  not,  as  yet, 
assume  his  new  clothes.  It  would  have  appeared  strange 
that  one  who  sat  at  my  table  should  afterwards  put  on  my 
livery ;  and  as,  in  a  small  town  there  is  always  plenty  of 
scandal,  for  Fieta's  sake,  if  for  no  other  reason,  it  was 
deferred  until  our  arrival  in  London.  Wishing  the  land- 
lady good-bye,  who  I  really  believed  would  have  given  up 


I04  Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father 

her  bill  to  have  known  who  we  could  possibly  be,  we  got 
on  the  outside  of  the  stage-coach,  and  in  the  evening 
arrived  in  the  metropolis.  I  have  been  particular  in  de- 
scribing all  these  little  circumstances,  as  it  proves  how 
very  awkward  it  is  to  jump,  without  observation,  from  one 
station  in  society  to  another. 


Chapter  XVIII 

I  receive  a  letter  from  my  uncle  by  which  I  naturally  expect  to  find  out 
who  is  my  father — Like  other  outcasts,  I  am  warned  by  a  dream. 

But  I  have  omitted  to  mention  a  circumstance  of  great 
importance,  which  occurred  at  the  inn  the  night  before  I 
placed  Fleta  at  the  boarding-school.  In  looking  over  my 
portmanteau,  I  perceived  the  present  of  Nattee  to  Fleta, 
which  I  had  quite  forgotten.  I  took  it  to  Fleta,  and  told 
her  from  whom  it  came.  On  opening  the  paper,  it  proved 
to  contain  a  long  chain  of  round  coral  and  gold  beads, 
strung  alternately ;  the  gold  beads  were  not  so  large  as 
the  coral,  but  still  the  number  of  them,  and  the  purity  of 
the  metal,  made  them  of  considerable  value.  Fleta  passed 
the  beads  through  her  fingers,  and  then  threw  it  round 
her  neck,  and  sat  in  deep  thought  for  some  minutes. 
"Japhet,"  said  she  at  last,  **I  have  seen  this — I  have 
worn  this  before — I  recollect  that  I  have ;  it  rushes  into 
my  memory  as  an  old  friend,  and  I  think  that  before 
morning  it  will  bring  to  my  mind  something  that  I  shall 
recollect  about  it." 

"  Try  all  you  can,  Fleta,  and  let  me  know  to-morrow." 
**  It's  no  use  trying ;  if  I  try,  I  never  can  recollect  any- 
thing.    I   must  wear   it   to-night,  and  then  I  shall  have 
something  come  into  my  mind  all  of  a  sudden ;  or  perhaps 
I  may  dream  something.     Good-night." 

It  immediately  occurred  to  me  that  it  was  most  probable 
that  the  chain  had  been  on  Fleta's  neck  at  the  time  that 
she   was   stolen   from  her  parents,  and  might  prove  the 


Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father  105 

means  of  her  being  identified.  It  was  no  common  chain — 
apparently  had  been  wrought  by  people  in  a  state  of  semi- 
refinement.  There  was  too  little  show  for  its  value — too 
much  sterling  gold  for  the  simple  effect  produced ;  and  I 
very  much  doubted  whether  another  like  it  could  be  found. 

The  next  morning  Fleta  was  too  much  affected  at  part- 
ing with  me,  to  enter  into  much  conversation.  I  asked 
whether  she  had  recollected  anything,  and  she  replied, 
"  No ;  that  she  had  cried  all  night  at  the  thoughts  of  our 
separation."  I  cautioned  her  to  be  very  careful  of  the 
chain,  and  I  gave  the  same  caution  to  the  schoolmistress ; 
and  after  I  had  left  the  town,  I  regretted  that  I  had  not 
taken  it  away,  and  deposited  it  in  some  place  of  security. 
I  resolved  to  do  so  when  I  next  saw  Fleta ;  in  the  mean- 
time, she  would  be  able,  perhaps,  by  association,  to  call  up 
some  passage  of  her  infancy  connected  with  it. 

I  had  inquired  of  a  gentleman  who  sat  near  me  on  the 
coach,  which  was  the  best  hotel  for  a  young  man  of  fashion. 
He  recommended  the  Piazza,  in  Covent  Garden,  and  to 
that  we  accordingly  repaired.  I  selected  handsome  apart- 
ments, and  ordered  a  light  supper.  When  the  table  was 
laid,  Timothy  made  his  appearance,  in  his  livery,  and  cut 
a  very  smart,  dashing  figure.  I  dismissed  the  waiter,  and 
as  soon  as  we  were  alone,  I  burst  into  a  fit  of  laughter. 
**  Really,  Timothy,  this  is  a  good  farce ;  come,  sit  down, 
and  help  me  to  finish  this  bottle  of  wine." 

"  No,  sir,"  replied  Timothy ;  "  with  your  permission, 
I  prefer  doing  as  the  rest  of  my  fraternity.  You  only 
leave  the  bottle  on  the  sideboard,  and  I  will  steal  as  much 
as  I  want ;  but  as  for  sitting  down,  that  will  be  making 
too  free,  and  if  we  were  seen,  would  be,  moreover,  very 
dangerous.  We  must  both  keep  up  our  characters.  They 
have  been  plying  me  with  all  manner  of  questions  below, 
as  to  who  you  were — your  name,  &c.  I  resolved  that  I 
would  give  you  a  lift  in  the  world,  and  I  stated  that  you 
had  just  arrived  from  making  a  grand  tour — which  is  not  a 
fib,  after  all — and  as  for  your  name,  I  said  that  you  were 
at  present  incog.^^ 


io6  Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father 

"  But  why  did  you  make  me  incog.  ?  " 

"  Because  it  may  suit  you  so  to  be  ;  and  it  certainly  is 
the  truth,  for  you  don't  know  your  real  name." 

We  were  here  interrupted  by  the  waiter  bringing  in 
a  letter  upon  a  salver.     "  Here  is  a  letter  addressed  to 

*  I,  or  J.  N.,  on  his  return  from  his  tour,'  sir,"  said  he  ; 
"  I  presume  it  is  for  you  ?  " 

"  You  may  leave  it,"  said  I,  with  nonchalance. 

The  waiter  laid  the  letter  on  the  table,  and  retired. 

**How  very  odd,  Timothy — this  letter  cannot  be  for 
me ;  and  yet  they  are  my  initials.  It  is  as  much  like  a  J 
as  an  I.  Depend  upon  it,  it  is  some  fellow  who  has  just 
gained  this  intelligence  below,  and  has  written  to  ask  for  a 
subscription  to  his  charity  list,  imagining  that  I  am  flush 
of  money,  and  liberal." 

**I  suppose  so,"  replied  Tim  ;  **  however,  you  may  just 
as  well  see  what  he  says." 

"But  if  I  open  it  he  will  expect  something.  I  had 
better  refuse  it." 

"  O  no,  leave  that  to  me ;  I  know  how  to  put  people 
off." 

"  After  all,  it  is  a  fine  thing  to  be  a  gentleman,  and  be 
petitioned." 

I  broke  open  the  seal,  and  found  that  the  letter  con- 
tained an  inclosure  addressed  to  another  person.  The 
letter  was  as  follows  : — 

"My   dear    Nephew, — ['Bravo,    sir,'   said   Timothy; 

*  you've  found  an  uncle  already — you'll  soon  find  a  father.'] 
From  the  great  uncertainty  of  the  post,  I  have  not  ventured 
to  do  more  than  hint  at  what  has  come  to  light  during  this 
last  year,  but  as  it  is  necessary  that  you  should  be  ac- 
quainted with  the  whole  transaction ;  and  as  you  had  not 
decided  when  you  last  wrote,  whether  you  would  prosecute 
your  intended  three  months  trip  to  Sicily,  or  return  from 
Milan,  you  may  probably  arrive  when  I  am  out  of  town  ; 
I  therefore  enclose  you  a  letter  to  Mr  Masterton,  directing 
him  to  surrender  to  you  a  sealed  packet,  lodged  in  his 


Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father  107 

hands,  containing  all  the  particulars,  the  letters  which  bear 
upon  them,  and  what  has  been  proposed  to  avoid  exposure  -, 
which  you  may  peruse  at  your  leisure,  should  you  arrive 
before  my  return  to  town.  There  is  no  doubt  but  that 
the  affair  may  be  hushed  up,  and  we  trust  that  you  will 
see  the  prudence  of  the  measure ;  as,  once  known,  it  will 
be  very  discreditable  to  the  family  escutcheon.  [*  I  always 
had  an  idea  you  were  of  good  family,'  interrupted  Tim.] 
I  wish  you  had  followed  my  advice,  and  had  not  returned ; 
but  as  you  were  positive  on  that  point,  I  beg  you  will  now 
consider  the  propriety  of  remaining  incognito,  as  reports 
are  already  abroad,  and  your  sudden  return  will  cause  a 
great  deal  of  surmise.  Your  long  absence  at  the  Gottingen 
University,  and  your  subsequent  completion  of  your  grand 
tour,  will  have  effaced  all  remembrance  of  your  person, 
and  you  can  easily  be  passed  off  as  a  particular  friend  of 
mine,  and  I  can  introduce  you  everywhere  as  such.  Take, 
then,  any  name  you  may  please,  provided  it  be  not  Smith 
or  Brown,  or  such  vulgarisms  ;  and  on  the  receipt  of  this 
letter,  write  a  note,  and  send  it  to  my  house  in  Portman 
Square,  just  saying,  *  so  and  so  is  arrived.'  This  will 
prevent  the  servants  from  obtaining  any  information  by 
their  prying  curiosity ;  and  as  I  have  directed  all  my  letters 
to  be  forwarded  to  my  seat  in  Worcestershire,  I  shall  come 
up  immediately  that  I  receive  it,  and  by  your  putting  the 
name  which  you  mean  to  assume,  I  shall  know  whom  to 
ask  for  when  I  call  at  the  hotel. 

**  Your  affectionate  Uncle, 

**  WlNDERMEAR." 

"  One  thing  is  very  clear,  Timothy,"  said  I,  laying  the 
letter  on  the  table,  "  that  it  cannot  be  intended  for  me." 

**  How  do  you  know,  sir,  that  this  lord  is  not  your 
uncle  ?     At  all  events,  you  must  do  as  he  bids  you." 

**  "What — go  for  the  papers  !  most  certainly  I  shall  not." 

**  Then  how  in  the  name  of  fortune  do  you  expect  to 
find  your  father,  when  you  will  not  take  advantage  of  such 
an  opportunity  of  getting  into  society  ?     It  is  by  getting 


io8  Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father 

possession  of  other  people's  secrets,  that  you  will  worm 
out  your  own." 

*'  But  it  is  dishonest,  Timothy." 

"  A  letter  is  addressed  to  you,  in  which  you  have 
certain  directions  ;  you  break  the  seal  with  confidence,  and 
you  read  what  you  find  is  possibly  not  for  you ;  but, 
depend  upon  it,  Japhet,  that  a  secret  obtained  is  one  of  the 
surest  roads  to  promotion.  Recollect  your  position ;  cut 
off  from  the  world,  you  have  to  re-unite  yourself  with  it, 
to  recover  your  footing,  and  create  an  interest.  You  have 
not  those  who  love  you  to  help  you — you  must  not  scruple 
to  obtain  your  object  by  fear." 

"  That  is  a  melancholy  truth,  Tim,"  replied  I ;  "and  I 
believe  I  must  put  my  strict  morality  in  my  pocket." 

"  Do,  sir,  pray,  until  you  can  afford  to  be  moral ;  it's  a 
very  expensive  virtue  that ;  a  deficiency  of  it  made  you  an 
outcast  from  the  world ;  you  must  not  scruple  at  a  slight 
deficiency  on  your  own  part,  to  regain  your  position." 

There  was  so  much  shrewdness,  so  much  of  the  wisdom 
of  the  serpent  in  the  remarks  of  Timothy,  that,  added  to 
my  ardent  desire  to  discover  my  father,  which  since  my 
quitting  the  gipsy  camp  had  returned  upon  me  with  two- 
fold force,  my  scruples  were  overcome,  and  I  resolved  that 
I  would  not  lose  such  an  opportunity.  Still  I  hesitated, 
and  went  up  into  my  room,  that  I  might  reflect  upon  what 
I  should  do.  I  went  to  bed,  revolving  the  matter  in  my 
mind,  and  turning  over  from  one  position  to  the  other,  at 
one  time  deciding  that  I  would  not  take  advantage  of  the 
mistake,  at  another  quite  as  resolved  that  I  would  not 
throw  away  such  an  opening  for  the  prosecution  of  my 
search;  at  last  I  fell  into  an  uneasy  slumber,  and  had  a 
strange  dream.  I  thought  that  I  was  standing  upon  an 
isolated  rock,  with  the  waters  raging  around  me ;  the  tide 
was  rising,  and  at  last  the  waves  were  roaring  at  my  feet. 
I  was  in  a  state  of  agony,  and  expected  that,  in  a  short 
time,  I  should  be  swallowed  up.  The  main  land  was  not 
far  off,  and  I  perceived  well-dressed  people  in  crowds,  who 
were  enjoying  themselves,  feasting,  dancing,  and  laughing 


Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father  109 

in  merry  peals.  I  held  out  my  hands — I  shouted  to  them 
— they  saw,  and  heard  me,  but  heeded  me  not.  My  horror 
at  being  swept  away  by  the  tide  was  dreadful.  I  shrieked 
as  the  water  rose.  At  last  I  perceived  something  unroll 
itself  from  the  main  land,  and  gradually  advancing  to  the 
inland,  form  a  bridge  by  which  I  could  walk  over  and  be 
saved.  I  was  about  to  hasten  over,  when  "Private,  and 
no  thoroughfare,"  appeared  at  the  end  nearest  me,  in  large 
letters  of  fire.  I  started  back  with  amazement,  and  would 
not,  dared  not  pass  them.  When  all  of  a  sudden,  a  figure 
in  white  appeared  by  my  side,  and  said  to  me,  pointing  to 
the  bridge,  "  Self-preservation  is  the  first  law  of  nature." 

I  looked  at  the  person  who  addressed  me  ;  gradually  the 
figure  became  darker  and  darker,  until  it  changed  to  Mr 
Cophagus,  with  his  stick  up  to  his  nose.  "  Japhet,  all 
nonsense — very  good  bridge — um — walk  over — find  father 
— and  so  on."  I  dashed  over  the  bridge,  which  appeared 
to  float  on  the  water,  and  to  be  composed  of  paper,  gained 
the  other  side,  and  was  received  with  shouts  of  congratula- 
tion, and  the  embraces  of  the  crowd.  I  perceived  an  elderly 
gentleman  come  forward ;  I  knew  it  was  my  father,  and  I 
threw  myself  into  his  arms.  I  awoke,  and  found  myself 
rolling  on  the  floor,  embracing  the  bolster  with  all  my 
might.  Such  was  the  vivid  impression  of  this  dream,  that 
I  could  not  turn  my  thoughts  away  from  it,  and  at  last  I 
considered  that  it  was  a  divine  interposition.  All  my 
scruples  vanished,  and  before  the  day  had  dawned  I 
determined  that  I  would  follow  the  advice  of  Timothy. 
An  enthusiast  is  easily  led  to  believe  what  he  wishes,  and 
he  mistakes  his  own  feelings  for  warnings ;  the  dreams 
arising  from  his  daily  contemplations  for  the  interference 
of  Heaven.  He  thinks  himself  armed  by  supernatural 
assistance,  and  warranted  by  the  Almighty  to  pursue  his 
course,  even  if  that  course  should  be  contrary  to  the 
Almighty's  precepts.  Thus  was  I  led  away  by  my  own 
imaginings,  and  thus  was  my  monomania  increased  to  an 
impetus  which  forced  before  it  all  consideration  of  what 
was  right  or  wrong. 


no  Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father 


Chapter  XIX 

An  important  chapter — I  make  some  important  acquaintances,  obtain  some 
important  papers  which  I  am  importunate  to  read  through. 

The  next  morning  I  told  my  dream  to  Timothy,  who 
laughed  very  heartily  at  my  idea  of  the  finger  of  Provi- 
dence. At  last,  perceiving  that  I  was  angry  with  him, 
he  pretended  to  be  convinced.  When  I  had  finished  my 
breakfast,  I  sent  to  inquire  the  number  in  the  square  of 
Lord  Windermear's  town  house,  and  wrote  the  following 
simple  note  to  his  lordship,  "  Japhet  Nenvland  has  arrived 
from  his  tour  at  the  Piazza,  Covent  Garden."  This  was 
confided  to  Timothy,  and  I  then  set  off  with  the  other 
letter  to  Mr  Masterton,  which  was  addressed  to  Lincoln's 
Inn.  By  reading  the  addresses  of  the  several  legal  gentle- 
men, I  found  out  that  Mr  Masterton  was  located  on  the 
first  floor.  I  rang  the  bell,  which  had  the  effect  of  **  Open, 
Sesame,"  as  the  door  appeared  to  swing  to  admit  me  with- 
out any  assistance.  I  entered  an  ante-room,  and  from 
thence  found  myself  in  the  presence  of  Mr  Masterton — a 
little  old  man,  with  spectacles  on  his  nose,  sitting  at  a  table 
covered  with  papers.  He  offered  me  a  chair,  and  I 
presented  the  letter. 

"  I  see  that  I  am  addressing  Mr  Neville,"  said  he,  after 
he  had  perused  the  letter.  *'  I  congratulate  you  on  your 
return.     You  may  not,  perhaps,  remember  me  ? " 

"  Indeed,  sir,  I  cannot  say  that  I  do,  exactly." 

"  I  could  not  expect  it,  my  dear  sir,  you  have  been  so 
long  away.  You  have  very  much  improved  in  person,  I 
must  say ;  yet  still,  I  recollect  your  features  as  a  mere  boy. 
Without  compliment,  I  had  no  idea  that  you  would  ever 
have  made  so  handsome  a  man."  I  bowed  to  the  compli- 
ment.    "  Have  you  heard  from  your  uncle  ? " 

"  I  had  a  few  lines  from  Lord  Windermear,  enclosing 
your  letter." 

"  He  is  well,  I  hope  ?  " 


Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father  iii 

"  Quite  well,  I  believe." 

Mr  Masterton  then  rose,  went  to  an  iron  safe,  and 
brought  out  a  packet  of  papers,  which  he  put  into  my 
hands.  "You  will  read  these  with  interest,  Mr  Neville. 
I  am  a  party  to  the  whole  transaction,  and  must  venture  to 
advise  you  not  to  appear  in  England  under  your  own  name, 
until  all  is  settled.  Your  uncle,  I  perceive,  has  begged 
the  same." 

"  And  I  have  assented,  sir.  I  have  taken  a  name  instead 
of  my  real  one." 

"  May  I  ask  what  it  is  .? " 

"  I  call  myself  Mr  Japhet  Newland." 

"  Well,  it  is  singular,  but  perhaps  as  good  as  any  other. 
I  will  take  it  down,  in  case  I  have  to  write  to  you.  Your 
address  is " 

"  Piazza — Covent  Garden." 

Mr  Masterton  took  my  name  and  address,  I  took  the 
papers,  and  then  we  both  took  leave  of  one  another,  with 
many  expressions  of  pleasure  and  good-will. 

I  returned  to  the  hotel,  where  I  found  Timothy  waiting 
for  me,  with  impatience.  "  Japhet,"  said  he,  **  Lord 
Windermear  has  not  yet  left  town.  I  have  seen  him,  for  I 
was  called  back  after  I  left  the  house,  by  the  footman,  who 
ran  after  me — he  will  be  here  immediately." 

"  Indeed,"  replied  I.  "  Pray  what  sort  of  person  is  he, 
and  what  did  he  say  to  you  ? " 

"  He  sent  for  me  in  the  dining-parlour,  where  he  was  at 
breakfast,  asked  when  you  arrived,  whether  you  were  well, 
and  how  long  I  had  been  in  your  service.  I  replied  that  I 
had  not  been  more  than  two  days,  and  had  just  put  on  my 
liveries.  He  then  desired  me  to  tell  Mr  Newland  that  he 
would  call  upon  him  in  about  two  hours.  Then,  my  lord," 
replied  I,  ''I  had  better  go  and  tell  him  to  get  out  of 
bed." 

'*  The  lazy  dog  !  "  said  he,  "  nearly  one  o'clock,  and  not 
out  of  bed ;  well,  go  then,  and  get  him  dressed  as  fast  as 
you  can." 

Shortly  afterwards  a  handsome  carriage  with  greys  drew 


112  Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father 

up  to  the  door.  His  lordship  sent  in  his  footman  to  ask 
whether  Mr  Newland  was  at  home.  The  reply  of  the  waiter 
was,  that  there  was  a  young  gentleman  who  had  been  there 
two  or  three  days,  who  had  come  from  making  a  tour,  and 
his  name  did  begin  with  an  iV.  "  That  will  do,  James  ;  let 
down  the  steps."  His  lordship  alighted,  was  ushered 
up  stairs,  and  into  my  room.  There  we  stood,  staring  at 
each  other. 

"  Lord  Windermear,  I  believe,"  said  I,  extending  my 
hand. 

"  You  have  recognised  me  first,  John,"  said  he,  taking 
my  hand,  and  looking  earnestly  in  my  face.  **  Good 
heavens !  is  it  possible  that  an  awkward  boy  should  have 
grown  up  into  so  handsome  a  fellow  ?  I  shall  be  proud  of 
my  nephew.  Did  you  remember  me  when  I  entered  the 
room  ? " 

"  To  tell  the  truth,  my  lord,  I  did  not ;  but  expect- 
ing you,  I  took  it  for  granted  that  it  must  be  you." 

*'Nine  years  make  a  great  difference,  John; — but  I 
forget,  I  must  now  call  you  Japhet.  Have  you  been  read- 
ing the  Bible  lately,  that  you  fixed  upon  that  strange 
name  ? " 

"  No,  my  lord  ;  but  this  hotel  is  such  a  Noah's  ark,  that 
it's  no  wonder  I  thought  of  it." 

"  You're  an  undutiful  dog,  not  to  ask  after  your  mother, 
sir." 

"  I  was  about " 

"  I  see — I  see,"  interrupted  his  lordship  ;  *'  but  recollect, 
John,  that  she  still  is  your  mother.  By-the-by,  have  you 
read  the  papers  yet  ? " 

"No,  sir,"  replied  I,  "  there  they  are,"  pointing  to  them 
on  the  side  table.  "  I  really  do  not  like  to  break  the 
seals." 

"  That  they  will  not  contain  pleasant  intelligence,  I 
admit,"  replied  his  lordship ;  "  but  until  you  have  read 
them,  I  do  not  wish  to  converse  with  you  on  the  subject, 
therefore,"  said  he,  taking  up  the  packet,  and  breaking  the 
seals,  "I  must  now  insist  that  you  employ  this  forenoon  in 


Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father  113 

reading  them  through.  You  will  dine  with  me  at  seven, 
and  then  we  will  talk  the  matter  over." 

*'  Certainly,  sir,  if  you  wish  it,  I  will  read  them." 

*'  I  must  insist  upon  it,  John  ;  and  am  rather  surprised  at 
your  objecting,  when  they  concern  you  so  particularly." 

"  I  shall  obey  your  orders,  sir." 

"  Well,  then,  my  boy,  I  shall  wish  you  good  morning, 
that  you  may  complete  your  task  before  you  come  to  dinner. 
To-morrow,  if  you  wish  it — but  recollect,  I  never  press 
young  men  on  these  points,  as  I  am  aware  that  they  some- 
times feel  it  a  restraint — if  you  wish  it,  I  say,  you  may  bring 
your  portmanteaus,  and  take  up  your  quarters  with  me. 
By-the-bye,"  continued  his  lordship,  taking  hold  of  my  coat, 
**  who  made  this  ?" 

**  The  tailor  to  his  Serene  Highness  the  Prince  of 
Darmstadt  had  that  honour,  my  lord,"  replied  I. 

"  Humph  !  I  thought  they  fitted  better  in  Germany  ;  it*s 
not  quite  the  thing — we  must  consult  Stulz,  for  with  that 
figure  and  face,  the  coat  ought  to  be  quite  correct.  Adieu, 
my  dear  fellow,  till  seven." 

His  lordship  shook  hands  with  me,  and  I  was  left  alone. 
Timothy  came  in  as  soon  as  his  lordship's  carriage  had 
driven  off.  "Well,  sir,"  said  he,  "  was  your  uncle  glad  to 
see  you  ? " 

"  Yes,"  replied  I;  "and  look,  he  has  broken  open  the 
seals,  and  has  insisted  upon  my  reading  the  papers." 

"  It  would  be  very  undutiful  in  you  to  refuse,  so  I  had 
better  leave  you  to  your  task,"  said  Timothy,  smiling,  as 
he  quitted  the  room. 


Chapter  XX 

I  open  an  account  with  my  bankers,  draw  largely  upon  credulity,  and  am 

prosperous  without  a  check. 

I  SAT  down  and  took  up  the  papers.     I  was  immediately 
and  strangely  interested  in  all  that  I  read.     A  secret ! — it 

F  H 


114  Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father 

was,  indeed,  a  secret,  involving  the  honour  and  reputation 
of  the  most  distinguished  famihes.  One  that,  if  known, 
the  trumpet  of  scandal  would  have  blazoned  forth  to  the 
disgrace  of  the  aristocracy.  It  would  have  occasioned 
bitter  tears  to  some,  gratified  the  petty  malice  of  many, 
satisfied  the  revenge  of  the  vindictive,  and  bowed  with 
shame  the  innocent  as  well  as  the  guilty.  It  is  not 
necessary,  nor,  indeed,  would  I,  on  any  account,  state  any 
more.  I  finished  the  last  paper,  and  then  fell  into  a 
reverie.  This  is,  indeed,  a  secret,  thought  I ;  one  that  I 
would  I  never  had  possessed.  In  a  despotic  country  my 
life  would  be  sacrificed  to  the  fatal  knowledge — here, 
thank  God,  my  life  as  well  as  my  liberty  are  safe. 

The  contents  of  the  papers  told  me  all  that  was 
necessary  to  enable  me  to  support  the  character  which  I 
had  assumed.  The  reason  why  the  party,  whom  I  was 
supposed  to  be,  was  intrusted  with  it,  was,  that  he  was  in 
a  direct  line,  eventually  heir,  and  the  question  was  whether 
he  would  waive  his  claim  with  the  others,  and  allow  death 
to  bury  crime  in  oblivion,  I  felt  that  were  I  in  his 
position  I  should  so  do — and  therefore  was  prepared 
to  give  an  answer  to  his  lordship.  I  sealed  up  the  papers, 
dressed  myself,  and  went  to  dinner ;  and  after  the  cloth 
was  removed,  Lord  Windermear,  first  rising  and  turning 
the  key  in  the  door,  said  to  me,  in  a  low  voice,  "  You 
have  read  the  papers,  and  what  those,  nearly  as  much 
interested  as  you  are  in  this  lamentable  business,  have 
decided  upon.     Tell  me,  what  is  your  opinion  ? " 

*'  My  opinion,  my  lord,  is,  that  I  wish  I  had  never 
known  what  has  come  to  light  this  day — that  it  will 
be  most  advisable  never  to  recur  to  the  subject,  and  that 
the  proposals  made  are,  in  my  opinion,  most  judicious,  and 
should  be  acted  upon." 

"  That  is  well,"  replied  his  lordship  ;  **  then  all  are 
agreed,  and  I  am  proud  to  find  you  possessed  of  such 
honour  and  good  feeling.  We  now  drop  the  subject  for 
ever.  Are  you  inclined  to  leave  town  with  me,  or  what 
do  you  intend  to  do  ?  " 


Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father  115 

"  I  prefer  remaining  in  town,  if  your  lordship  will 
introduce  me  to  some  of  the  families  of  your  acquaintance. 
Of  course  I  know  no  one  now." 

"  Very  true  j  I  will  introduce  you,  as  agreed,  as  Mr 
Newland.  It  may  be  as  well  that  you  do  not  know  any 
of  our  relations,  whom  I  have  made  to  suppose,  that  you 
are  still  abroad — and  it  would  be  awkward,  when  you 
take  your  right  name  by-and-bye.  Do  you  mean  to  see 
your  mother  ? " 

"  Impossible,  my  lord,  at  present ;  by-and-bye  I  hope 
to  be  able." 

"Perhaps  it's  all  for  the  best.  I  will  now  write  one 
note  to  Major  Carbonnell,  introducing  you  as  my  particular 
friend,  and  requesting  that  he  will  make  London  agree- 
able. He  knows  everybody,  and  will  take  you  every- 
where." 

"When  does  your  lordship  start  for  the  country  ?" 

**  To-morrow ;  so  we  may  as  well  part  to-night.  By- 
the-by,  you  have  credit  at  Drummond's,  in  the  name  of 
Newland,  for  a  thousand  pounds  j  the  longer  you  make 
it  last  you  the  better." 

His  lordship  gave  me  the  letter  of  introduction.  I 
returned  to  him  the  sealed  packet,  shook  hands  with  him, 
and  took  my  departure. 

"Well,  sir,"  said  Timothy,  rubbing  his  hands,  as  he 
stood  before  me,  "  what  is  the  news ;  for  I  am  dying 
to  hear  it — and  what  is  this  secret  ? " 

"  With  regard  to  the  secret,  Tim,  a  secret  it  must 
remain.  I  dare  not  tell  it  even  to  you."  Timothy  looked 
rather  grave  at  this  reply.  "  No,  Timothy,  as  a  man  of 
honour,  I  cannot."  My  conscience  smote  me  when  I  made 
use  of  the  term ;  for,  as  a  man  of  honour,  I  had  no 
business  to  be  in  possession  of  it.  "  My  dear  Timothy, 
I  have  done  wrong  already,  do  not  ask  me  to  do  worse." 

"  I  will  not,  Japhet ;  but  only  tell  me  what  has  passed, 
and  what  you  intend  to  do  ?  " 

"  That  I  will,  Timothy,  with  pleasure  -, "  and  I  then 
stated  all  that  had  passed  between  his  lordship  and  me. 


ii6  Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father 

"  And  now,  you  observe,  Timothy,  I  have  gained  what 
I  desired,  an  introduction  into  the  best  society." 

"  And  the  means  of  keeping  up  your  appearance," 
echoed  Timothy,  rubbing  his  hands.  "  A  thousand 
pounds  will  last  a  long  while." 

"  It  will  last  a  very  long  while,  Tim,  for  I  never  will 
touch  it ;  it  would  be  swindling." 

"So  it  would,"  replied  Tim,  his  countenance  falling ; 
**  well,  I  never  thought  of  that." 

**  I  have  thought  of  much  more,  Tim  ;  recollect  I  must, 
in  a  very  short  time,  be  exposed  to  Lord  Windermear, 
for  the  real  Mr  Neville  will  soon  come  home." 

"  Good  heavens  !  what  will  become  of  us  ? "  replied 
Timothy,  with  alarm  in  his  countenance. 

"Nothing  can  hurt  you,  Tim,  the  anger  will  be  all 
upon  me ;  but  I  am  prepared  to  face  it,  and  I  would 
face  twice  as  much  for  the  distant  hope  of  finding  my 
father.  Whatever  Lord  Windermear  may  feel  inclined 
to  do,  he  can  do  nothing ;  and  my  possession  of  the 
secret  will  ensure  even  more  than  my  safety ;  it  will 
afford  me  his  protection,  if  I  demand  it." 

"  I  hope  it  may  prove  so,"  replied  Timothy,  "  but  I 
feel  a  little  frightened." 

"  I  do  not ;  to-morrow  I  shall  give  my  letter  of  in- 
troduction, and  then  I  will  prosecute  my  search.  So 
now,  my  dear  Tim,  good-night." 

The  next  morning,  I  lost  no  time  in  presenting  my 
letter  of  introduction  to  Major  Carbonnell.  He  lived 
in  apartments  on  the  first  floor  in  St  James's  Street,  and 
I  found  him  at  breakfast,  in  a  silk  dressing  gown.  I  had 
made  up  my  mind  that  a  little  independence  always  carries 
with  it  an  air  of  fashion.  When  I  entered,  therefore, 
I  looked  at  him  with  a  knowing  air,  and  dropping  the 
letter  down  on  the  table  before  him,  said,  "  There's 
something  for  you  to  read.  Major  ;  and,  in  the  meantime, 
I'll  refresh  myself  on  this  chair  ; "  suiting  the  action  to 
the  word,  I  threw  myself  on  a  chair,  amusing  myself 
with  tapping  the  sides  of  my  boots  with  a  small  cane 
which  I  carried  in  my  hand. 


Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father  117 

Major  Carbonnell,  upon  whom  I  cast  a  furtive  eye 
more  than  once  during  the  time  that  he  was  reading  the 
letter,  was  a  person  of  about  thirty-five  years  of  age, 
well-looking,  but  disfigured  by  the  size  of  his  whiskers, 
which  advanced  to  the  corners  of  his  mouth,  and  met 
under  his  throat.  He  was  tali  and  well  made,  and  with 
an  air  of  fashion  about  him  that  was  undeniable.  His  linen 
was  beautifully  1  clean  and  carefully  arranged,  and  he  had 
as  many  rings  on  his  fingers,  and,  when  he  was  dressed, 
chains  and  trinkets,  as  ever  were  put  on  by  a  lady. 

"  My  dear  sir,  allow  me  the  honour  of  making  at  once 
your  most  intimate  acquaintance,"  said  he,  rising  from 
his  chair,  and  offering  his  hand,  as  soon  as  he  had  perused 
the  letter.  "  Any  friend  of  Lord  Windermear's  would 
be  welcome,  but  when  he  brings  such  an  extra  recom- 
mendation in  his  own  appearance,  he  becomes  doubly  so." 

"  Major  Carbonnell,"  replied  I,  "  I  have  seen  you  but 
two  minutes,  and  I  have  taken  a  particular  fancy  to  you, 
in  which  I,  no  doubt,  have  proved  my  discrimination. 
Of  course,  you  know  that  I  have  just  returned  from 
making  a  tour  ?  " 

"  So  I  understand  from  his  lordship's  letter.  Mr 
Newland,  my  time  is  at  your  service.  Where  are  you 
staying  ? " 

"  At  the  Piazza." 

**  Very  good  ;  I  will  dine  with  you  to-day  ;  order  some 
mulligatawny,  they  are  famous  for  it.  After  dinner  we 
will  go  to  the  theatre." 

I  was  rather  surprised  at  his  cool  manner  of  asking 
himself  to  dine  with  me  and  ordering  my  dinner,  but  a 
moment's  reflection  made  me  feel  what  sort  of  person 
I  had  to  deal  with. 

"  Major,  I  take  that  as  almost  an  affront.  You  will 
dine  with  me  to-day  !  I  beg  to  state  that  you  must  dine 
with  me  every  day  that  we  are  not  invited  elsewhere ; 
and  what's  more,  sir,  I  shall  be  most  seriously  displeased, 
if  you  do  not  order  the  dinner  every  time  that  you  do 
dine  with   me,  and  ask  whoever   you  may  think  worthy 


ii8  Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father 

of  putting  their  legs  under  our  table.  Let's  have  no 
doing  things  by  halves,  Major ;  I  know  you  now  as  well 
as  if  we  had  been  intimate  for  ten  years." 

The  Major  seized  me  by  the  hand.  "  My  dear 
Newland,  I  only  wish  we  had  known  one  another  ten 
years,  as  you  say — the  loss  has  been  mine;  but  now — 
you  have  breakfasted,  I  presume  ?  " 

"  Yes ;  having  nothing  to  do,  and  not  knowing  a  soul 
after  my  long  absence,  I  advanced  my  breakfast  about 
two  hours,  that  I  might  find  you  at  home ;  and  now  I'm 
at  your  service." 

"  Say  rather  I  am  at  yours.  I  presume  you  will  walk. 
In  ten  minutes  I  shall  be  ready.  Either  take  up  the 
paper,  or  whistle  an  air  or  two,  or  anything  else  you 
like,  just  to  kill  ten  minutes — and  I  shall  be  at  your 
command." 


Chapter  XXI 

I  come  out  under  a  first-rate  chaperon,  and  at  once  am  established  into 
the  regions  of  fashion — Prove  that  I  am  deserving  of  my  promotion, 

"I  BEG  your  pardon,  Newland,"  said  the  Major,  return- 
ing from  his  dressing-room,  resplendent  with  chains  and 
bijouterie  ;  "  but  I  must  have  your  Christian  name." 

"  It's  rather  a  strange  one,"  replied  I ;  "  it  is  Japhet." 

"  Japhet !  by  the  immortal  powers,  I'd  bring  an  action 
against  my  godfathers  and  godmothers ;  you  ought  to 
recover  heavy  damages." 

"  Then  I  presume  you  would  not  have  the  name," 
replied  I,  with  a  knowing  look,  "  for  a  clear  ten  thousand 
a  year." 

"  Whew  !  that  alters  the  case — it's  astonishing  how  well 
any  name  looks  in  large  gold  letters.  Well,  as  the  old 
gentleman,  whoever  he  might  have  been,  made  you  com- 
pensation, you  must  forgive  and  forget.  Now  where  shall 
we  go .? " 

"With  your  permission,  as  I  came  to  town  in  these 


Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father  119 

clothes,  made  by  a  German  tailor — Darmstadt's  tailor  by- 
the-bye — but  still  if  tailor  to  a  prince,  not  the  prince  of 
tailors — I  would  wish  you  to  take  me  to  your  own  :  your 
dress  appears  very  correct." 

**  You  show  your  judgment,  Newland,  it  is  correct ; 
Stulz  will  be  delighted  to  have  your  name  on  his  books, 
and  to  do  justice  to  that  figure.     Allans  donc^'* 

We  sauntered  up  St  James's  Street,  and  before  I  had 
arrived  at  Stulz's,  I  had  been  introduced  to  at  least  twenty 
of  the  young  men  about  town.  The  Major  was  most 
particular  in  his  directions  about  the  clothes,  all  of  which 
he  ordered ;  and  as  I  knew  that  he  was  well  acquainted 
with  the  fashion,  I  gave  him  carte  blanche.  When  we  left 
the  shop,  he  said,  "  Now,  my  dear  Newland,  I  have  given 
you  a  proof  of  friendship,  which  no  other  man  in  England 
has  had.  Your  dress  will  be  the  ne  plus  ultra.  There  are 
little  secrets  only  known  to  the  initiated,  and  Stulz  is  aware 
that  this  time  I  am  in  earnest.  I  am  often  asked  to  do  the 
same  for  others,  and  I  pretend  so  to  do ;  but  a  wink  from 
me  is  sufficient,  and  Stulz  dares  not  dress  them.  Don't 
you  want  some  bijouterie  ?  or  have  you  any  at  home  ? " 

"  I  may  as  well  have  a  few  trifles,"  replied  I. 

We  entered  a  celebrated  jeweller's,  and  he  selected  for 
me  to  the  amount  of  about  forty  pounds.  "  That  will  do 
— never  buy  much;  for  it  is  necessary  to  change  every 
three  months  at  least.     What  is  the  price  of  this  chain  ?  " 

"It  is  only  fifteen  guineas.  Major." 

*'Well,  I  shall  take  it;  but  recollect,"  continued  the 
Major;  "I  tell  you  honestly,  I  never  shall  pay  you." 

The  jeweller  smiled,  bowed,  and  laughed ;  the  Major 
threw  the  chain  round  his  neck,  and  we  quitted  the 
shop. 

"  At  all  events.  Major,  they  appear  not  to  believe  your 
word  in  that  shop." 

"  My  dear  fellow,  that's  their  own  fault,  not  mine.  I 
tell  them  honestly  I  never  will  pay  them ;  and  you  may 
depend  upon  it,  I  intend  most  sacredly  to  keep  my  word. 
I  never   do   pay   anybody,  for   the   best   of  all  possible 


120  Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father 

reasons,  I  have  no  money ;  but  then  I  do  them  a  service — 
I  make  them  fashionable,  and  they  know  it." 

**  What  debts  do  you  pay  then,  Major  ?" 

**Let  me  think — that  requires  consideration.  Oh!  I 
pay  my  washer-woman." 

"  Don't  you  pay  your  debts  of  honour  ? " 

"  Debts  of  honour !  why  I'll  tell  you  the  truth ;  for  I 
know  that  we  shall  hunt  in  couples.  If  I  win  I  take  the 
money :  but  if  I  lose — why  then  I  forget  to  pay ;  and  I 
always  tell  them  so  before  I  set  down  to  the  table.  If 
they  won't  believe  me,  it's  not  my  fault.  But  what's  the 
hour  ?  Come,  I  must  make  a  few  calls,  and  will  introduce 
you." 

We  sauntered  on  to  Grosvenor  Square,  knocked,  and 
were  admitted  into  a  large,  elegantly-furnished  mansion. 
The  footman  announced  us — "  My  dear  Lady  Maelstrom, 
allow  me  the  honour  of  introducing  to  you  my  very 
particular  friend,  Mr  Newland,  consigned  to  my  charge 
by  my  Lord  Windermear  during  his  absence.  He  has  just 
arrived  from  the  continent,  where  he  has  been  making  th? 
grand  tour." 

Her  ladyship  honoured  me  with  a  smile.  "  By-the-bye, 
Major,  that  reminds  me — do  me  the  favour  to  come  to  the 
window.     Excuse  us  one  moment,  Mr  Newland." 

The  Major  and  Lady  Maelstrom  walked  to  the  window, 
and  exchanged  a  few  sentences,  and  then  returned.  Her 
ladyship  holding  up  her  finger,  and  saying  to  him  as  they 
came  towards  me,  "  Promise  me  now  that  you  won't 
forget." 

"  Your  ladyship's  slightest  wishes  are  to  me  imperative 
commands,"  replied  the  Major,  with  a  graceful  bow. 

In  a  quarter  of  an  hour,  during  which  the  conversation 
was  animated,  we  rose  to  take  our  leave,  when  her  lady- 
ship came  up  to  me,  and  offering  her  hand,  said,  "  Mr 
Newland,  the  friendship  of  Lord  Windermear,  and  the 
introduction  of  Major  Carbonnell,  are  more  than  sufficient 
to  induce  me  to  put  your  name  down  on  my  visiting  list. 
I  trust  I  shall  see  a  great  deal  of  you,  and  that  we  shall  be 
great  friends." 


Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father  121 

I  bowed  to  this  handsome  announcement,  and  we 
retired.  As  soon  as  we  were  out  in  the  square,  the  Major 
observed,  "  You  saw  her  take  me  on  one  side — it  was  to 
pump.  She  has  no  daughters,  but  about  fifty  nieces,  and 
match-making  is  her  delight.  I  told  her  that  I  would 
stake  my  honour  upon  your  possessing  ten  thousand  a 
year;  how  much  more  I  could  not  say.  I  was  not  far 
wrong,  was  I  ? " 

I  laughed.  **  What  I  may  be  worth,  Major,  I  really 
cannot  say  j  but  I  trust  that  the  event  will  prove  that  you 
are  not  far  wrong.     Say  no  more,  my  dear  fellow." 

"  I  understand — you  are  not  yet  of  age — of  course,  have 
not  yet  come  into  possession  of  your  fortune." 

**That  is  exactly  the  case,  Major.  I  am  now  but  little 
more  than  nineteen." 

"  You  look  older ;  but  there  is  no  getting  over  baptismal 
registries  with  the  executors.  Newland,  you  must  content 
yourself  for  the  two  next  years  in  playing  Moses,  and  only 
peep  at  the  promised  land." 

We  made  two  or  three  more  calls,  and  then  returned  to 
St  James's  Street.  "  Where  shall  we  go  now  ?  By-the- 
bye,  don't  you  want  to  go  to  your  banker's  ? " 

"  I  will  just  stroll  down  with  you,  and  see  if  they  have 
paid  any  money  in,"  replied  I,  carelessly. 

We  called  at  Drummond's,  and  I  asked  them  if  there 
was  any  money  paid  in  to  the  credit  of  Mr  Newland. 

"  Yes,  sir,"  replied  one  of  the  clerks :  "  there  is  one 
thousand  pounds  paid  in  yesterday." 

"  Very  good,"  replied  I. 

"  How  much  do  you  wish  to  draw  for  ? "  inquired  the 
Major. 

"  I  don't  want  any,"  replied  I.  "  I  have  more  money 
than  I  ought  to  have  in  my  desk  at  this  moment." 

**Well,  then,  let  us  go  and  order  dinner;  or  perhaps 
you  would  like  to  stroll  about  a  little  more ;  if  so,  I  will 
go  and  order  the  dinner.  Here's  Harcourt,  that's  lucky. 
Harcourt  my  dear  fellow,  know  Mr  Newland,  my  very 
particular  friend.     I  must  leave  you  now ;  take  his  arm. 


122  Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father 

Harcourt,  for  half  an  hour,  and  then  join  us  at  dinner  at 
the  Piazza. 

Mr  Harcourt  was  an  elegant  young  man  of  about  five- 
and-twenty.  Equally  pleased  with  each  other's  externals, 
we  were  soon  familiar :  he  was  witty,  sarcastic,  and  well- 
bred.  After  half  an  hour's  conversation  he  asked  me  what 
I  thought  of  the  Major.  I  looked  him  in  the  face  and 
smiled.  "That  look  tells  me  that  you  will  not  be  his 
dupe,  otherwise  I  had  warned  you :  he  is  a  strange 
character :  but  if  you  have  money  enough  to  afford  to  keep 
him,  you  cannot  do  better,  as  he  is  acquainted  with,  and 
received  by,  everybody.  His  connections  are  good ;  and 
he  once  had  a  very  handsome  fortune,  but  it  was  soon  run 
out,  and  he  was  obliged  to  sell  his  commission  in  the 
Guards.  Now  he  lives  upon  the  world ;  which  as  Shake- 
speare says,  is  his  oyster ;  and  he  has  wit  and  sharpness 
enough  to  open  it.  Moreover,  he  has  some  chance  of 
falling  into  a  peerage;  that  prospect,  and  his  amusing 
qualities,  added  to  his  being  the  most  fashionable  man 
about  town,  keeps  his  head  above  water.  I  believe  Lord 
Windermear,  who  is  his  cousin,  very  often  helps  him." 

"It  was  Lord  Windermear  who  introduced  me  to  him," 
observed  I. 

"  Then  he  will  not  venture  to  play  any  tricks  upon  you, 
further  than  eating  your  dinners,  borrowing  your  money, 
and  forgetting  to  pay  it." 

"  You  must  acknowledge,"  said  I,  "  he  always  tells  you 
beforehand  that  he  never  will  pay  you." 

"  And  that  is  the  only  point  in  which  he  adheres  to  his 
word,"  replied  Harcourt,  laughing ;  "  but,  tell  me,  am  I 
to  be  your  guest  to-day  ?  " 

"  If  you  will  do  me  that  honour." 

"  I  assure  you  I  am  delighted  to  come,  as  I  shall  have  a 
further  opportunity  of  cultivating  your  acquaintance." 

"Then  we  had  better  bend  our  steps  towards  the  hotel, 
for  it  is  late,"  replied  I ;  and  we  did  so  accordingly. 


Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father  123 


Chapter  XXII 

The  real  Simon  Pure  proves  the  worse  of  the  two — I  am  found  guilty,  but 
not  condemned ;  convicted,  yet  convince  ;  and  after  having  behaved  the 
very  contrary  to,  prove  that  I  am,  a  gentleman. 

On  our  arrival,  we  found  the  table  spread,  champagne  in 
ice  under  the  sideboard,  and  apparently  everything  pre- 
pared for  a  sumptuous  dinner,  the  Major  on  the  sofa  giving 
directions  to  the  waiter,  and  Timothy  looking  all  astonish- 
ment. 

"  Major,"  said  I,  "  I  cannot  tell  you  how  much  I  am 
obliged  to  you  for  your  kindness  in  taking  all  this  trouble 
off  my  hands,  that  I  might  follow  up  the  agreeable  intro- 
duction you  have  given  me  to  Mr  Harcourt." 

"  My  dear  Newland,  say  no  more ;  you  will,  I  dare  say, 
do  the  same  for  me  if  I  require  it,  when  I  give  a  dinner. 
(Harcourt  caught  my  eye,  as  if  to  say,  "  You  may  safely 
promise  that.")  But,  Newland,  do  you  know  that  the 
nephew  of  Lord  Windermear  has  just  arrived  ?  Did  you 
meet  abroad  ^ " 

**  No,"  replied  I,  somewhat  confused ;  but  I  soon 
recovered  myself.  As  for  Tim,  he  bolted  out  of  the  room. 
"  What  sort  of  a  person  is  he  ? " 

**  That  you  may  judge  for  yourself,  my  dear  fellow,  for 
I  asked  him  to  join  U5,  I  must  say,  more  out  of  compliment 
to  Lord  Windermear  than  anything  else ;  for  I  am  afraid 
that,  even  I  could  never  make  a  gentleman  of  him.  But 
take  Harcourt  with  you  to  your  room,  and  by  the  time 
you  have  washed  your  hands,  I  will  have  dinner  on  the 
table.  I  took  the  liberty  of  desiring  your  valet  to  show 
me  in  about  ten  minutes  ago.  He's  a  shrewd  fellow  that 
of  your's — where  did  you  pick  him  up  ? " 

**  By  mere  accident,"  replied  I ;  "  come,  Mr  Harcourt." 

On  our  return,  we  found  the  real  Simon  Pure,  Mr 
Estcourt,  sitting  with  the  major,  who  introduced  us,  and 
dinner  being  served,  we  sat  down  to  table. 


124  Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father 

Mr  Estcourt  was  a  young  man,  about  my  own  age,  but 
not  so  tall  by  two  or  three  inches.  His  features  were 
prominent,  but  harsh ;  and  when  I  saw  him,  I  was  not  at 
all  surprised  at  Lord  Windermear's  expressions  of  satis- 
faction, when  he  suppossd  that  I  was  his  nephew.  His 
countenance  was  dogged  and  sullen,  and  he  spoke  little ; 
he  appeared  to  place  an  immense  value  upon  birth,  and 
hardly  deigned  to  listen,  except  the  aristocracy  were  the 
subject  of  discourse.  I  treated  him  with  marked  deference, 
that  I  might  form  an  acquaintance,  and  found  before  we 
parted  that  night,  that  I  had  succeeded.  Our  dinner  was 
excellent,  and  we  were  all,  except  Mr  Estcourt,  in  high 
good  humour.  We  sat  late — too  late  to  go  to  the  theatre, 
and  promising  to  meet  the  next  day  at  noon,  Harcourt  and 
the  Major  took  their  leave. 

Mr  Estcourt  had  indulged  rather  too  much,  and,  after 
their  departure,  became  communicative.  I  plied  the  bottle 
and  we  sat  up  for  more  than  an  hour ;  he  talked  of  nothing 
but  his  family  and  his  expectations.  I  took  this  opportunity 
of  discovering  what  his  feelings  were  likely  to  be  when  he 
was  made  acquainted  with  the  important  secret  which  was 
in  my  possession.  I  put  a  case  somewhat  similar,  and 
asked  him  whether  in  such  circumstances  he  would  waive 
his  right  for  a  time,  to  save  the  honour  of  his  family. 

*'  No,  by  G — d  !  "  replied  he,  "  I  never  would.  What ! 
give  up  even  for  a  day  my  right — conceal  my  true  rank 
for  the  sake  of  relatives  ?  never — nothing  would  induce 
me. 

I  was  satisfied,  and  then  casually  asked  him  if  he  had 
written  to  Lord  Windermear  to  inform  him  of  his 
arrival. 

'*  No,"  replied  he  ;  "I  shall  write  to-morrow."  He 
soon  after  retired  to  his  own  apartment,  and  I  rang  for 
Timothy. 

'*  Good  heavens,  sir  !  "  cried  Timothy,  "  what  is  all  this 
— and  what  are  you  about  ?  I  am  frightened  out  of  my 
wits.     Why,  sir,  our  money  will  not  last  two  months." 

"  I  do  not  expect  it  will  last  much  longer,  Tim  -,  but  it 


Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father  125 

cannot  be  helped.  Into  society  I  must  get — and  to  do  so, 
must  pay  for  it." 

"  But,  sir,  putting  the  expense  aside,  what  are  we 
to  do  about  this  Mr  Estcourt  ?  All  must  be  found 
out." 

"  I  intend  that  it  shall  be  found  out,  Tim,"  replied  I ; 
**  but  not  yet.  He  will  write  to  his  uncle  to-morrow ; 
you  must  obtain  the  letter,  for  it  must  not  go.  I  must 
first  have  time  to  establish  myself,  and  then  Lord  Winder- 
mear  may  find  out  his  error  as  soon  as  he  pleases." 

"  Upon  my  honour,  Japhet,  you  appear  to  be  afraid  of 
nothing." 

"I  fear  nothing,  Tim,  when  I  am  following  up  the 
object  of  my  wishes.  I  will  allow  no  obstacles  to  stand 
in  my  way,  in  my  search  after  my  father^" 

"  Really,  you  seem  to  be  quite  mad  on  that  point, 
Japhet." 

**  Perhaps  I  may  be,  Tim,"  replied  I,  thoughtfully. 
"  At  all  events,  let  us  go  to  bed  now,  and  I  will  tell  you 
to-morrow  morning,  all  the  events  of  this  day." 

Mr  Estcourt  wrote  his  letter,  which  Tim  very  officiously 
offered  to  put  into  the  post,  instead  of  which  we  put  it 
between  the  bars  of  the  grate. 

I  must  now  pass  over  about  three  weeks,  during  which 
I  became  very  intimate  with  the  Major  and  Mr  Harcourt, 
and  was  introduced  by  them  to  the  clubs,  and  almost 
every  person  of  fashion.  The  idea  of  my  wealth,  and  my 
very  handsome  person  and  figure,  ensured  me  a  warm 
reception,  and  I  soon  became  one  of  the  stars  of  the  day. 
During  this  time,  I  also  gained  the  entire  confidence  of  Mr 
Estcourt,  who  put  letter  after  letter  into  the  hands  of 
Timothy,  who  of  course  put  them  into  the  usual  place.  I 
pacified  him  as  long  as  I  could,  by  expressing  my  opinion, 
that  his  lordship  was  on  a  visit  to  some  friends  in  the 
neighbourhood  of  his  seat ;  but  at  last,  he  would  remain 
in  town  no  longer.  You  may  go  now,  thought  I,  I  feel 
quite  safe. 

It  was  about   five  days   after  his  departure,  as  I   was 


126  Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father 

sauntering,  arm  in  arm  with  the  Major,  who  generally 
dined  with  me  about  five  days  in  the  week,  that  I  perceived 
the  carriage  of  Lord  Windermear,  with  his  lordship  in  it. 
He  saw  us,  and  pulling  his  check-string,  alighted,  and 
coming  up  to  us,  with  the  colour  mounting  to  his  fore- 
head with  emotion,  returned  the  salute  of  the  Major  and 
me. 

"  Major,"  said  he,  **  you  will  excuse  me,  but  I  am 
anxious  to  have  some  conversation  with  Mr  Newland ; 
perhaps,"  continued  his  lordship,  addressing  me,  "you 
will  do  me  the  favour  to  take  a  seat  in  my  carriage  ?  " 

Fully  prepared,  I  lost  none  of  my  self-possession,  but, 
thanking  his  lordship,  I  bowed  to  him,  and  stepped  in. 
His  lordship  followed,  and,  saying  to  the  footman,  *'  Home 
— drive  fast,"  fell  back  in  the  carriage,  and  never  uttered 
one  word  until  we  had  arrived,  and  had  entered  the  dining- 
parlour.  He  then  took  a  few  steps  up  and  down,  before 
he  said,  "  Mr  Newland,  or  whatever  your  name  may  be,  I 
perceive  that  you  consider  the  possession  of  an  important 
secret  to  be  your  safeguard.  To  state  my  opinion  of  your 
conduct  is  needless  ;  who  you  are,  and  what  you  are,  I 
know  not ;  but,"  continued  he,  no  longer  controlling  his 
anger ;  "  you  certainly  can  have  no  pretensions  to  the 
character  of  a  gentleman." 

**  Perhaps  your  lordship,"  replied  I,  calmly,  "  will  inform 
me  upon  what  you  may  ground  your  inference." 

"  Did  you  not,  in  the  first  place,  open  a  letter  addressed 
to  another  ? " 

"  My  lord,  I  opened  a  letter  brought  to  me  with  the 
initials  of  my  name,  and  at  the  time  I  opened  it  I  fully 
believed  that  it  was  intended  for  me." 

*' We  will  grant  that,  sir;  but  after  you  had  opened  it 
you  must  have  known  that  it  was  for  some  other  person." 

"I  will  not  deny  that,  my  lord." 

"  Notwithstanding  which,  you  apply  to  my  lawyer,  re- 
presenting yourself  as  another  person,  to  obtain  sealed 
papers." 

**  I  did,  my  lord ;   but  allow  me  to  say,  that  I  never 


Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father  127 

should  have  done  so,  had  I  not  been  warned  by  a 
dream." 

"  By  a  dream  ?  " 

"  Yes,  my  lord.  I  had  determined  not  to  go  for  them, 
when  in  a  dream  I  was  ordered  so  to  do." 

"Paltry  excuse !  and  then  you  break  private  seals." 

"  Nay,  my  lord,  although  I  did  go  for  the  papers,  I 
could  not,  even  with  the  idea  of  supernatural  interposition, 
make  up  my  mind  to  break  the  seals.  If  your  lordship  will 
recollect,  it  was  you  who  broke  the  seals,  and  insisted 
upon  my  reading  the  papers." 

"  Yes,  sir,  under  your  false  name." 

"It  is  the  name  by  which  I  go  at  present,  although  I 
acknowledge  it  is  false  ;  but  that  is  not  my  fault — I  have 
no  other  at  present." 

*'  It  is  very  true,  sir,  that  in  all  I  have  now  mentioned, 
the  law  will  not  reach  you  ;  but  recollect,  that  by  assuming 
another  person's  name " 

"  I  never  did,  my  lord,"  interrupted  I. 

"  Well,  I  may  say,  by  inducing  me  to  believe  that  you 
were  my  nephew,  you  have  obtained  money  under  false 
pretences  ;  and  for  that  I  now  have  you  in  my  power." 

**  My  lord,  I  never  asked  you  for  the  money ;  you 
yourself  paid  it  into  the  banker's  hands  to  my  credit,  and 
to  my  own  name.  I  appeal  to  you  now,  whether,  if  you 
so  deceived  yourself,  the  law  can  reach  me  ?  " 

"  Mr  Newland,  I  will  say,  that  much  as  I  regret  what 
has  passed,  I  regret  more  than  all  the  rest,  that  one  so 
young,  so  prepossessing,  so  candid  in  appearance,  should 
prove  such  an  adept  in  deceit.  Thinking  you  v/ere  my 
nephew,  my  heart  warmed  towards  you,  and  I  must 
confess,  that  since  I  have  seen  my  real  nephew,  the 
mortification  has  been  very  great." 

**  My  lord,  I  thank  you  j  but  allow  me  to  observe,  that 
I  am  no  swindler.  Your  thousand  pounds  you  will  find 
safe  in  the  bank,  for  penury  would  not  have  induced  me 
to  touch  it.  But  now  that  your  lordship  appears  more 
cool,  wilJ  you  do  me  the  favour  to  listen  to  me  ?     When 


128  Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father 

you  have  heard  my  life  up  to  the  present,  and  my  motives 
for  what  I  have  done,  you  will  then  decide  how  far  I  am 
to  blame." 

His  lordship  took  a  chair,  and  motioned  to  me  to  take 
another.  I  narrated  what  had  occurred  when  I  was  left 
at  the  Foundling,  and  gave  him  a  succinct  account  of  my 
adventures  subsequently — my  determination  to  find  my 
father — the  dream  which  induced  me  to  go  for  the  papers 
— and  all  that  the  reader  has  already  been  acquainted 
with.  His  lordship  evidently  perceived  the  monomania 
which  controlled  me,  and  heard  me  with  great  atten- 
tion. 

**  You  certainly,  Mr  Newland,  do  not  stand  so  low  in 
my  opinion  as  you  did  before  this  explanation,  and  I  must 
make  allowances  for  the  excitement  under  which  I  per- 
ceive you  to  labour  on  one  subject  -,  but  now,  sir,  allow 
me  to  put  one  question,  and  I  beg  that  you  will  answer 
candidly.  What  price  do  you  demand  for  your  secrecy 
on  this  important  subject  ?  " 

**  My  lord !  "  replied  I,  rising  with  dignity ;  "  this  is 
the  greatest  affront  you  have  put  upon  me  yet ;  still  I  will 
name  the  price  by  which  I  will  solemnly  bind  myself,  by 
all  my  future  hopes  of  finding  my  father  in  this  world,  and 
of  finding  an  eternal  Father  in  the  next,  and  that  price, 
my  lord,  is  a  return  of  your  good  opinion." 

His  lordship  also  rose,  and  walked  up  and  down  the 
room  with  much  agitation  in  his  manner.  "  What  am  I 
to  make  of  you,  Mr  Newland  ?  " 

"  My  lord,  if  I  were  a  swindler,  I  should  have  taken 
your  money  ;  if  I  had  wished  to  avail  myself  of  the  secret, 
I  might  have  escaped  with  all  the  documents,  and  made 
my  own  terms.  I  am,  my  lord,  nothing  more  than  an 
abandoned  child,  trying  all  he  can  to  find  his  father." 
My  feelings  overpowered  me,  and  I  burst  into  tears.  As 
soon  as  I  could  recover  myself,  I  addressed  his  lordship, 
who  had  been  watching  me  in  silence,  and  not  without 
emotion.  "I  have  one  thing  more  to  say  to  you,  my 
lord."     I  then  mentioned   the   conversation   between  Mr 


Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father  129 

Estcourt  and  myself,  and  pointed  out  the  propriety  of  not 
making  him  a  party  to  the  important  secret. 

His  lordship  allowed  me  to  proceed  without  interrup- 
tion, and  after  a  few  moments'  thought  said,  **  I  believe 
that  you  are  right,  Mr  Newland ;  and  I  now  begin  to 
think  that  it  was  better  that  this  secret  should  have  been 
entrusted  to  you  than  to  him.  You  have  now  conferred 
an  obligation  on  me,  and  may  command  me.  I  believe 
you  to  be  honest,  but  a  little  mad,  and  I  beg  your  pardon 
for  the  pain  which  I  have  occasioned  you." 

"  My  lord,  I  am  more  than  satisfied." 

"  Can  I  be  of  any  assistance  to  you,  Mr  Newland  ?  " 

"If,  my  lord,  you  could  at  all  assist  me,  or  direct  me 
in  my  search " 

"There  I  am  afraid  I  can  be  of  little  use;  but  I  will 
give  you  the  means  of  prosecuting  your  search,  and  in 
so  doing,  I  am  doing  but  an  act  of  justice,  for  in  introduc- 
ing you  to  Major  Carbonnell,  I  am  aware  that  I  must 
have  very  much  increased  your  expenses.  It  was  an 
error  which  must  be  repaired,  and  therefore,  Mr  Newland, 
I  beg  you  will  consider  the  money  at  the  bank  as  yours, 
and  make  use  of  it  to  enable  you  to  obtain  your  ardent 
wish." 

"  My  lord " 

*'  I  will  not  be  denied,  Mr  Newland ;  and  if  you  feel 
any  delicacy  on  the  subject,  you  may  take  it  as  a  loan, 
to  be  repaid  when  you  find  it  convenient.  Do  not,  for 
a  moment,  consider  that  it  is  given  to  you  because  you 
possess  an  important  secret,  for  I  will  trust  entirely  to 
your  honour  on  that  score." 

"Indeed,  my  lord,"  replied  I,  "your  kindness  over- 
whelms me,  and  I  feel  as  if,  in  you,  I  had  already  almost 
found  a  father.  Excuse  me,  my  lord,  but  did  your  lord- 
ship ever — ever " 

"  I  know  what  you  would  say,  my  poor  fellow  :  no, 
I  never  did.  I  never  was  blessed  with  children.  Had 
I  been,  I  should  not  have  felt  that  I  was  disgraced  by 
having  one   resembling   you.     Allow  me  to  entreat  you, 

F  I 


1 3°  Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father 

Mr  Newland,  that  you  do  not  suffer  the  mystery  of  your 
birth  to  weigh  so  heavily  on  your  mind ;  and  now  I  wish 
you  good  morning,  and  if  you  think  I  can  be  useful  to 
you,  I  beg  that  you  will  not  fail  to  let  me  know." 

"  May  Heaven  pour  down  blessings  on  your  head," 
replied  I,  kissing  respectfully  his  lordship's  hand ;  "  and 
may  my  father,  when  I  find  him,  be  as  like  unto  you  as 
possible."     I  made  my  obeisance,  and  quitted  the  house. 


Chapter  XXIIT 

The  Major  prevents  the  landlord  from  imposing  on  me,  but  I  gain  nothing 
by  his  interference — For  economical  reasons  I  agree  to  live  with  him  that 
he  may  live  on  me. 

I  RETURNED  to  the  hotel,  for  my  mind  had  been  much 
agitated,  and  I  wished  for  quiet,  and  the  friendship  of 
Timothy.  As  soon  as  I  arrived  I  told  him  all  that  had 
passed. 

"  Indeed,"  replied  Timothy,  **  things  do  now  wear  a 
pleasant  aspect ;  for  I  am  afraid,  that  without  that  thousand, 
we  could  not  have  carried  on  for  a  fortnight  longer.  The 
bill  here  is  very  heavy,  and  I'm  sure  the  landlord  wishes  to 
see  the  colour  of  his  money." 

"How  much  do  you  think  we  have  left.''  It  is  high 
time,  Timothy,  that  we  now  make  up  our  accounts,  and 
arrange  some  plans  for  the  future,"  replied  I.  "I  have 
paid  the  jeweller  and  the  tailor,  by  the  advice  of  the 
Major,  who  says,  that  you  should  always  pay  jomx  first  bills 
as  soon  as  possible,  and  all  your  subsequent  bills  as  late  as 
possible ;  and  if  put  off  sine  die,  so  much  the  better.  In 
fact,  I  owe  very  little  now,  but  the  bill  here,  I  will  send 
for  it  to-night." 

Here  we  were  interrupted  by  the  entrance  of  the  land- 
lord. "  O  Mr  Wallace,  you  are  the  very  person  I  wished 
to  see  ;  let  me  have  my  bill,  if  you  please." 

"It's   not  of  the  least  consequence,   sir,"  replied   he; 


Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father  131 

**  but  if  you  wish  it,  I  have  posted  down  to  yesterday," 
and  the  landlord  left  the  room. 

"  You  were  both  of  one  mind,  at  all  events,"  said 
Timothy,  laughing;  **for  he  had  the  bill  in  his  hand,  and 
concealed  it  the  moment  you  asked  for  it." 

In  about  ten  minutes  the  landlord  reappeared,  and 
presenting  the  bill  upon  a  salver,  made  his  bow  and  retired. 
I  looked  it  over,  it  amounted  to  £10/^,  which,  for  little 
more  than  three  weeks,  was  pretty  well.  Timothy 
shrugged  up  his  shoulders,  while  I  ran  over  the  items. 
**  I  do  not  see  that  there  is  anything  to  complain  of,  Tim," 
observed  I,  when  I  came  to  the  bottom  of  it ;  "  but  I  do 
see  that  living  here,  with  the  Major  keeping  me  an  open 
house,  will  never  do.  Let  us  see  how  much  money  we 
have  left." 

Tim  brought  the  dressing-case  in  which  our  cash  was 
deposited,  and  we  found,  that  after  paying  the  waiters, 
and  a  few  small  bills  not  yet  liquidated,  our  whole  stock 
was  reduced  to  fifty  shillings. 

"  Merciful  Heaven  !  what  an  escape,"  cried  Timothy ; 
"  if  it  had  not  been  for  this  new  supply,  what  should  we 
have  done  ? " 

**  Very  badly,  Timothy ;  but  the  money  is  well  spent, 
after  all.  I  have  now  entrance  into  the  first  circles.  I  can 
do  without  Major  Carbonnell ;  at  all  events,  I  shall  quit 
this  hotel,  and  take  furnished  apartments,  and  live  at  the 
clubs.     I  know  how  to  put  him  off." 

I  laid  the  money  on  the  salver,  and  desired  Timothy 
to  ring  for  the  landlord,  when  who  should  come  up  but 
the  Major  and  Harcourt.  "  Why,  Newland  !  what  are  you 
going  to  do  with  that  money  ? "  said  the  Major. 

"I  am  paying  my  bill.  Major." 

"Paying  your  bill,  indeed  ;  let  us  see — ^^^104.  O  this 
is  a  confounded  imposition.  You  mustn't  pay  this."  At 
this  moment  the  landlord  entered.  '*  Mr  Wallace,"  said 
the  Major,  "  my  friend  Mr  Newland  was  about,  as  you  may 
see,  to  pay  you  the  whole  of  your  demand ;  but  allow  me 
to  observe,  that  being  my  very  particular  friend,  and  the 


132  Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father 

Piazza  having  been  particularly  recommended  by  me,  I  do 
think  that  your  charges  are  somewhat  exorbitant.  I  shall 
certainly  advise  Mr  Newland  to  leave  the  house  to-morrow, 
if  you  are  not  more  reasonable." 

"  Allow  me  -to  observe,  Major,  that  my  reason  for 
sending  for  my  bill,  was  to  pay  it  before  I  went  into  the 
country,  which  I  must  do  to-morrow,  for  a  few  days." 

"  Then  I  shall  certainly  recommend  Mr  Newland  not  to 
come  here  when  he  returns,  Mr  Wallace,  for  I  hold  myself, 
to  a  certain  degree,  after  the  many  dinners  we  have  ordered 
here,  and  of  which  I  have  partaken,  as  I  may  say,  particeps 
criminis,  or  in  other  words,  as  having  been  a  party  to  this 
extortion.  Indeed,  Mr  Wallace,  some  reduction  must  be 
made,  or  you  will  greatly  hurt  the  credit  of  your  house." 

Mr  Wallace  declared,  that  really  he  had  made  nothing 
but  the  usual  charges ;  that  he  would  look  over  the  bill 
again,  and  see  what  he  could  do. 

"  My  dear  Newland,"  said  the  Major,  "  I  have  ordered 
your  dinners,  allow  me  to  settle  your  bill.  Now,  Mr 
Wallace,  suppose  we  take  o^  one-third  V^ 

"  One-third,  Major  Carbonnell  !     I  should  be  a  loser." 

"  I  am  not  exactly  of  your  opinion ;  but  let  me  see — 
now  take  your  choice.  Take  off  ^20,  or  you  lose  my 
patronage,  and  that  of  all  my  friends.     Yes  or  no  ?  " 

The  landlord,  with  some  expostulation,  at  last  consented, 
he  receipted  the  bill,  and  leaving  ^20  of  the  money  on  the 
salver,  made  his  bow,  and  retired. 

"Rather  fortunate  that  I  slipped  in,  my  dear  Newland; 
now  there  are  ;r2o  saved.  By-the-bye,  I'm  short  of  cash. 
You've  no  objection  to  let  me  have  this  ?  I  shall  never 
pay  you,  you  know." 

"  I  do  know  you  never  will  pay  me,  Major;  nevertheless, 
as  I  should  have  paid  it  to  the  landlord  had  you  not  inter- 
fered, I  will  lend  it  to  you." 

"  You  are  a  good  fellow,  Newland,"  said  the  Major, 
pocketing  the  money.  "  If  I  had  borrowed  it,  and  you  had 
thought  you  would  have  had  it  repaid,  I  should  not  have 
thanked  you ;  but  as  you  lend  it  me  with  your  eyes  open, 


Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father  133 

it  is  nothing  more  than  a  very  delicate  manner  of  obliging 
me,  and  I  tell  you  candidly,  that  I  will  not  forget  it.  So 
you  really  are  off  to-morrow  ?  " 

"  Yes,"  replied  I,  "I  must  go,  for  I  find  that  I  am  not 
to  make  ducks  and  drakes  of  my  money,  until  I  come  into 
possession  of  my  property." 

"  I  see,  my  dear  fellow.  Executors  are  the  very  devil ; 
they  have  no  feeling.  Never  mind  ;  there's  a  way  of 
getting  to  windward  of  them.  I  dine  with  Harcourt,  and 
he  has  come  to  ask  you  to  join  us." 

"  With  pleasure." 

"  I  shall  expect  you  at  seven,  Newland,"  said  Harcourt, 
as  he  quitted  the  room  with  the  Major. 

"  Dear  me,  sir,  how  could  you  let  that  gentleman  walk 
off  with  your  money  ? "  cried  Timothy.  **  I  was  just 
rubbing  my  hands  with  the  idea  that  we  were  £^20  better 
off  than  we  thought,  and  away  it  went,  like  smoke." 

"  And  will  never  come  back  again,  Tim  ;  but  never 
mind  that,  it  is  important  that  I  make  a  friend  of  him,  and 
his  friendship  is  only  to  be  bought.  I  shall  have  value 
received.     And  now,  Tim,  we  must  pack  up,  for  I  leave 

this  to-morrow  morning.     I  shall  go  down  to  ,  and 

see  little  Fleta." 

I  dined  with  Harcourt.  The  Major  was  rather  curious 
to  know  what  it  was  which  appeared  to  flurry  Lord 
Windermear,  and  what  had  passed  between  us.  I  told 
him  that  his  lordship  was  displeased  on  money  matters,  but 
that  all  was  right,  only  that  I  must  be  more  careful  for  the 
future.  "  Indeed,  Major,  I  think  I  shall  take  lodgings.  I 
shall  be  more  comfortable,  and  better  able  to  receive  my 
friends." 

Harcourt  agreed  with  me,  that  it  was  a  much  better 
plan,  when  the  Major  observed,  ''Why,  Newland,  I  have 
a  room  quite  at  your  service  ;  suppose  you  come  and  live 
with  me  ? " 

'*  I  am  afraid  I  shall  not  save  by  that,"  replied  I,  laugh- 
ing, "  for  you  will  not  pay  your  share  of  the  bills." 

**  No,  upon  my  honour  I  will  not  •,  so  I  give  you  fair 


134  Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father 

warning ;  but  as  I  always  dine  with  you  when  I  do  not 
dine  elsewhere,  it  will  be  a  saving  to  you — for  you  will 
have  your  lodgings,  Newland ;  and  you  know  the  house  is 
my  own,  and  I  let  off  the  rest  of  it  j  so  as  far  as  that  bill 
is  concerned,  you  will  be  safe." 

**  Make  the  best  bargain  you  can,  Newland,"  said 
Harcourt ;  "  accept  his  offer,  for  depend  upon  it,  it  will 
be  a  saving  in  the  end." 

**It  certainly  deserves  consideration,"  replied  I;  "and 
the  Major's  company  must  be  allowed  to  have  its  due 
weight  in  the  scale ;  if  Carbonnell  will  promise  to  be  a 
little  more  economical " 

"  I  will,  my  dear  fellow — I  will  act  as  your  steward, 
and  make  your  money  last  as  long  as  I  can,  for  my  own  sake, 
as  well  as  yours.  Is  it  a  bargain  ?  I  have  plenty  of  room 
for  your  servant,  and  if  he  will  assist  me  a  little,  I  will 
discharge  my  own."    I  then  consented  to  the  arrangement. 


Chapter  XXIV 

The  Major  teaches  me  how  to  play  Whist,  so  as  never  to  lose,  which  is  by 
playing  against  each  other,  and  into  each  other's  hands. 

The  next  day  I  went  to  the  banker's,  drew  out  £lSOj  and 

set   off  with   Timothy  for  .       Fleta    threw    herself 

into  my  arms,  and  sobbed  with  joy.  When  I  told  her 
Timothy  was  outside,  and  wished  to  see  her,  she  asked 
why  he  did  not  come  in ;  and,  to  show  how  much  she  had 
been  accustomed  to  see,  without  making  remarks,  when  he 
made  his  appearance  in  his  livery,  she  did  not,  by  her 
countenance,  express  the  least  surprise,  nor,  indeed,  did 
she  put  any  questions  to  me  on  the  subject.  The  lady 
who  kept  the  school  praised  her  very  much  for  docility 
and  attention,  and  shortly  after  left  the  room.  Fleta  then 
took  the  chain  from  around  her  neck  into  her  hand,  and 
told  me  that  she  did  recollect  something  about  it,  which 
was,  that  the  lady  whom  she  remembered,  wore  a  long 


Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father  135 

pair  of  ear-rings,  of  the  same  make  and  materials.  She 
could  not,  however,  call  to  mind  anything  else.  I  re- 
mained with  the  little  girl  for  three  hours,  and  then 
returned  to  London — taking  my  luggage  from  the  hotel, 
and  installed  myself  into  the  apartments  of  Major 
Garbonnell. 

The  Major  adhered  to  his  promise  ;  we  certainly  lived 
well,  for  he  could  not  live  otherwise  j  but  in  every  other 
point,  he  was  very  careful  not  to  add  to  expense.  The 
season  was  now  over,  and  everybody  of  consequence 
quitted  the  metropolis.  To  remain  in  town  would  be  to 
lose  caste,  and  we  had  a  conference  where  we  should 
proceed. 

"  Newland,"  said  the  Major,  **  you  have  created  a 
sensation  this  season,  which  has  done  great  honour  to  my 
patronage  ;  but  I  trust,  next  spring,  that  I  shall  see  you 
form  a  good  alliance  ;  for,  believe  me,  out  of  the  many 
heartless  beings  we  have  mingled  with,  there  are  still  not 
only  daughters,  but  mothers,  who  are  not  influenced  by 
base  and  sordid  views." 

"  Why,  Carbonnell,  I  never  heard  you  venture  upon  so 
long  a  moral  speech  before." 

"True,  Newland,  and  it  may  be  a  long  while  before 
I  do  so  again  ;  the  world  is  my  oyster,  which  I  must  open, 
that  I  may  live  ;  but  recollect,  I  am  only  trying  to  recover 
my  own,  which  the  world  has  swindled  me  out  of.  There 
was  a  time  when  I  was  even  more  disinterested,  more  con- 
fiding, and  more  innocent  than  you  were  when  I  first  took 
you  in  hand.  I  suffered,  and  was  ruined  by  my  good 
qualities  ;  and  I  now  live  and  do  well  by  having  discarded 
them.  We  must  fight  the  world  with  its  own  weapons  ; 
but  still,  as  I  said  before,  there  is  some  good  in  it,  some 
pure  ore  amongst  the  dross ;  and  it  is  possible  to  find  high 
rank  and  large  fortune,  and  at  the  same  time  an  innocent 
mind.  If  you  do  marry,  I  will  try  hard  but  you  shall 
possess  both  j  not  that  fortune  can  be  of  much  consequence 
to  you." 

"  Depend  upon  it,  Carbonnell,  I  never  will  marry  with- 
out fortune." 


13^  Japliet,  in  Search  of  a  Father 

"  I  did  not  know  that  I  had  schooled  you  so  well ;  be  it 
so — it  is  but  fair  that  you  should  expect  it ;  and  it  shall  be 
an  item  in  the  match,  if  I  have  anything  to  do  with  it." 

**But  why  are  you  so  anxious  that  I  should  marry, 
Carbonnell  ? " 

"  Because  I  think  you  will,  in  all  probability,  avoid  the 
gaming-table,  which  I  should  have  taken  you  to  myself 
had  you  been  in  possession  of  your  fortune  when  I  first 
knew  you,  and  have  had  my  share  of  your  plucking ;  but 
now  I  do  know  you,  I  have  that  affection  for  you  that 
I  think  it  better  you  should  not  lose  your  all ;  for  observe, 
Newland,  my  share  of  your  spoliation  would  not  be  more 
than  what  I  have,  and  may  still  receive,  from  you ;  and  if 
you  marry  and  settle  down,  there  will  always  be  a  good 
house  and  a  good  table  for  me,  as  long  as  I  find  favour 
with  your  wife  ;  and,  at  all  events,  a  friend  in  need,  that 
I  feel  convinced  of.  So  now  you  have  my  reasons  ;  some 
smack  of  the  disinterestedness  of  former  days,  others  of 
my  present  worldliness ;  you  may  believe  which  you 
please."  And  the  Major  laughed  as  he  finished  his 
speech. 

"  Carbonnell,"  replied  I,  "I  will  believe  that  the  better 
feelings  predominate — that  the  world  has  made  you  what 
you  are  ;  and  that  had  you  not  been  ruined  by  the  world, 
you  would  have  been  disinterested  and  generous  ;  even 
now,  your  real  nature  often  gains  the  ascendency,  and  I  am 
sure  that  in  all  that  you  have  done,  which  is  not  defensible, 
your  poverty,  and  not  your  will,  has  consented.  Now, 
blunted  by  habit  and  time,  the  suggestiona  of  conscience 
do  not  often  give  you  any  uneasiness." 

"  You  are  very  right,  my  dear  fellow,"  replied  the 
Major ;  **  and  in  having  a  better  opinion  of  me  than  the 
world  in  general,  you  do  me,  I  trust,  no  more  than  justice. 
I  will  not  squander  your  fortune,  when  you  come  to  it,  if 
I  can  help  it ;  and  you'll  allow  that's  a  very  handsome 
promise  on  my  part." 

^'I'U  defy  you  to  squander  my  fortune,"  replied  I, 
laughing. 


Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father  137 

"Nay,  don't  defy  me,  Newland,  for  if  you  do,  you'll 
put  me  on  my  mettle.  Above  all,  don't  lay  me  a  bet,  for 
that  will  be  still  more  dangerous.  We  have  only  spent 
about  four  hundred  of  the  thousand  since  we  have  lived 
together,  which  I  consider  highly  economical.  "What  do 
you  say,  shall  we  go  to  Cheltenham  ?  You  will  find 
plenty  of  Irish  girls,  looking  out  for  husbands,  who  will 
give  you  a  warm  reception." 

"  I  hate  your  fortune  and  establishment  hunters,"  re- 
plied I. 

"  I  grant  that  they  are  looking  out  for  a  good  match,  so 
are  all  the  world  ;  but  let  me  do  them  justice.  Although, 
if  you  proposed,  in  three  days  they  would  accept  you  j  yet 
once  married,  they  make  the  very  best  wives  in  the  world. 
But  recollect  we  must  go  somewhere ;  and  I  think  Chel- 
tenham is  as  good  a  place  as  any  other.  I  do  not  mean  for 
a  wife,  but it  will  suit  my  own  views." 

This  last  observation  decided  me,  and  in  a  few  days  we 
were  at  Cheltenham ;  and  having  made  our  appearance  at 
the  rooms,  were  soon  in  the  vortex  of  society.  "  New- 
land,"  said  Carbonnell,  "  I  dare  say  you  find  time  hang 
rather  heavy  in  this  monotonous  place." 

"  Not  at  all,"  replied  I ;  "  what  with  dining  out,  dancing, 
and  promenading,  I  do  very  well." 

**  But  we  must  do  better.  Tell  me,  are  you  a  good 
hand  at  whist  ^ " 

*'  Not  by  any  means.  Indeed,  I  hardly  know  the 
game." 

"It  is  a  fashionable  and  necessary  accomplishment.  I 
must  make  you  master  of  it,  and  our  mornings  shall  be 
dedicated  to  the  work." 

"  Agreed,"  replied  I ;  and  from  that  day,  every  morning 
after  breakfast  till  four  oclock,  the  Major  and  I  were  shut 
up,  playing  two  dummies  under  his  instruction.  Adept  as 
he  was,  I  very  soon  learnt  all  the  finesse  and  beauty  of  the 
game. 

"  You  will  do  now,  Newland,"  said  the  Major  one  morn- 
ing, tossing  the  cards  away.     "  Recollect,  if  you  are  asked 


^3^  Ja-phet,  in  Search  of  a  Father 

to  play,  and  I  have  agreed,  do  not  refuse ;  but  we  must 
always  play  against  each  other." 

"I  don't  see  what  we  shall  gain  by  that,"  replied  ly 
"  for  if  I  win,  you'll  lose." 

"  Never  do  you  mind  that ;  only  follow  my  injunctions, 
and  play  as  high  as  they  choose.  We  only  stay  here  three 
weeks  longer,  and  must  make  the  most  of  our  time." 

I  confess  I  was  quite  puzzled  at  what  might  be  the 
major's  intentions ;  but  that  night  we  sauntered  into  the 
club.  Not  having  made  our  appearance  before,  we  were 
considered  as  new  hands  by  those  who  did  not  know  the 
Major,  and  were  immediately  requested  to  make  up  a  game. 
"  Upon  my  word,  gentlemen,  in  the  first  place,  I  play  very 
badly,"  replied  the  Major ;  "  and  in  the  next,"  continued 
he,  laughing,  "if  I  lose,  I  never  shall  pay  you,  for  I'm 
cleaned  out." 

The  way  in  which  the  Major  said  this  only  excited  a 
smile  J  he  was  not  believed,  and  I  was  also  requested  to 
take  a  hand.  "  I'll  not  play  with  the  Major,"  observed  I, 
"  for  he  plays  badly,  and  has  bad  luck  into  the  bargain  5  I 
might  as  well  lay  my  money  down  on  the  table." 

This  was  agreed  to  by  the  other  parties,  and  we  sat 
down.  The  first  rubber  of  short  whist  was  won  by  the 
Major  and  his  partner  ;  with  the  bets  it  amounted  to 
eighteen  pounds.  I  pulled  out  my  purse  to  pay  the  Major  ; 
but  he  refused,  saying,  "  No,  Newland,  pay  my  partner ; 
and  with  you,  sir,"  said  he,  addressing  my  partner,  **  I 
will  allow  the  debt  to  remain  until  we  rise  from  the 
table.  Newland,  we  are  not  going  to  let  you  off  yet,  I 
can  tell  you." 

I  paid  my  eighteen  pounds,  and  we  recommenced. 
Although  his  partner  did  not  perhaps  observe  it,  for  he 
was  but  an  indifferent  player,  or  if  he  did  observe  it,  had 
the  politeness  not  to  say  anything,  the  Major  now  played 
very  badly.  He  lost  three  rubbers  one  after  another,  and, 
with  bets  and  stakes,  they  amounted  to  one  hundred  and 
forty  pounds.  At  the  end  of  the  last  rubber  he  threw  up 
the  cards,  exclaiming  against  his  luck,  and  declaring  that 


Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father  139 

he  would  play  no  more.  "How  are  we  now,  sir  ?"  said 
he  to  my  partner. 

"  You  owed  me,  I  think,  eighteen  pounds.'* 
"  Eighteen  from  one  hundred  and  forty,  leaves  one 
hundred  and  twenty-two  pounds,  which  I  now  owe  you. 
You  must,  I'm  afraid,  allow  me  to  be  your  debtor,"  con- 
tinued the  Major,  in  a  most  insinuating  manner.  "I  did 
not  come  here  with  the  intention  of  playing.  I  presume  I 
shall  find  you  here  to-morrow  night." 

The  gentleman  bowed,  and  appeared  quite  satisfied. 
Major  Carbonnell's  partner  paid  me  one  hundred  and  forty 
pounds,  which  I  put  m  my  pocket-book,  and  we  quitted 
the  club. 

Chapter  XXV 

We  fund  our  winnings,  and  consider  to  refund,  a  work  of  supererogation — 
In  looking  after  my  father,  I  obey  the  old  adage,  "  Follow  your  nose." 

As  soon  as  we  were  in  the  street,  I  commenced  an  inquiry 
as  to  the  Major's  motives.  "Not  one  word,  my  dear 
fellow,  until  we  are  at  home,"  replied  he.  As  soon  as  we 
arrived,  he  threw  himself  in  a  chair,  and  crossing  his  legs, 
commenced :  "  You  observe,  Newland,  that  I  am  very 
careful  that  you  should  do  nothing  to  injure  your  character. 
As  for  my  own,  all  the  honesty  in  the  world  will  not 
redeem  it ;  nothing  but  a  peerage  will  ever  set  me  right 
again  in  this  world,  and  a  coronet  will  cover  a  multitude  of 
sins.  I  have  thought  it  my  duty  to  add  something  to  our 
finances,  and  intend  to  add  very  considerably  to  them 
before  we  leave  Cheltenham.  You  have  won  one  hundred 
and  twenty-eight  pounds." 

"  Yes,"  replied  I  j  "but  you  have  lost  it." 
"  Granted ;  but,  as  in  most  cases,  I  never  mean  to  pay 
my  losses,  you  see  that  it  must  be  a  winning  speculation 
as  long  as  we  play  against  each  other." 

"  I  perceive,"  replied  I  j  "  but  am  not  I  a  confederate  ? " 
"No  J  you  paid  when  you  lost,  and  took  your  money 


14©  Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father 

when  you  won.  Leave  me  to  settle  my  own  debts  of 
honour." 

**  But  you  will  meet  him  again  to-morrow  night." 

"  Yes,  and  I  will  tell  you  why.  I  never  thought  it 
possible  that  we  could  have  met  two  such  bad  players 
at  the  club.  We  must  now  play  against  them,  and  we 
must  win  in  the  long  run :  by  which  means  I  shall  pay 
off  the  debt  I  owe  him,  and  you  will  win  and  pocket 
money." 

"  Ah,"  replied  I,  "if  you  mean  to  allow  him  a  chance 
for  his  money,  I  have  no  objection — that  will  be  all  fair." 

"Depend  upon  it,  Newland,  when  I  know  that  people 
play  as  badly  as  they  do,  I  will  not  refuse  them ;  but 
when  we  sit  down  with  others,  it  must  be  as  it  was 
before — we  must  play  against  each  other,  and  I  shall  owe 
the  money.  I  told  the  fellow  that  I  never  would  pay 
him." 

"  Yes ;  but  he  thought  you  were  only  joking." 

"  That  is  his  fault — I  was  in  earnest.  I  could  not  have 
managed  this  had  it  not  been  that  you  are  known  to  be 
a  young  man  of  ten  thousand  pounds  per  annum,  and 
supposed  to  be  my  dupe.  I  tell  you  so  candidly ;  and 
now  good-night." 

I  turned  the  affair  over  in  my  mind  as  I  undressed — 
it  was  not  honest — but  I  paid  when  I  lost,  and  I  only 
took  the  money  when  I  won,- — still  I  did  not  like  it  j 
but   the  bank  notes  caught  my  eye  as  they  lay  on  the 

table,    and 1    was    satisfied.      Alas !    how    easy    are 

scruples  removed  when  we  want  money !  How  many 
are  there  who,  when  in  a  state  of  prosperity  and  affluence, 
when  not  tried  by  temptation,  would  have  blushed  at 
the  bare  idea  of  a  dishonest  action,  have  raised  and  held 
up  their  hands  in  abhorrence,  when  they  have  heard 
that  others  have  been  found  guilty;  and  yet,  when  in 
adversity,  have  themselves  committed  the  very  acts  which 
before  they  so  loudly  condemned !  How  many  of  the 
other  sex,  who  have  expressed  their  indignation  and 
contempt  at  those  who  have  fallen,  when  tempted,  have 


Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father  141 

fallen  themselves  !  Let  us  therefore  be  charitable ;  none 
of  us  can  tell  to  what  we  may  be  reduced  by  circumstances  ; 
and  when  we  acknowledge  that  the  error  is  great,  let  us 
feel  sorrow  and  pity  rather  than  indignation,  and  pray 
that  we  also  may  not  be  ^Ued  into  temptation^ 

As  agreed  upon,  the  next  evening  we  repaired  to  the 
club,  and  found  the  two  gentlemen  ready  to  receive  us. 
This  time  the  Major  refused  to  play  unless  it  was  with 
me,  as  I  had  such  good  fortune,  and  no  difficulty  was 
made  by  our  opponents.  We  sat  down  and  played  till 
four  o'clock  in  the  morning.  At  first,  notwithstanding 
our  good  play,  fortune  favoured  our  adversaries  j  but 
the  luck  soon  changed,  and  the  result  of  the  evening  was, 
that  the  Major  had  a  balance  in  his  favour  of  forty  pounds, 
and  I  rose  a  winner  of  one  hundred  and  seventy-one 
pounds,  CO  that  in  two  nights  we  had  won  three  hundred 
and  forty-two  pounds.  For  nearly  three  weeks  this 
continued,  the  Major  not  paying  when  not  convenient, 
and  we  quitted  Cheltenham  with  about  eight  hundred 
pounds  in  our  pockets ;  the  Major  having  paid  about 
one  hundred  and  twenty  pounds  to  different  people  who 
frequented  the  club ;  but  they  were  Irishmen,  who  were 
not  to  be  trifled  with.  I  proposed  to  the  Major  that  we 
should  pay  those  debts,  as  there  still  would  be  a  large 
surplus  :  he  replied,  *'  Give  me  the  money."  I  did  so. 
"  Now,"  continued  he,  **  so  far  your  scruples  are  removed, 
as  you  will  have  been  strictly  honest ;  but,  my  dear 
fellow,  if  you  know  how  many  debts  of  this  sort  are 
due  to  me,  of  which  I  never  did  touch  one  farthing,  you 
would  feel  as  I  do — that  it  is  excessively  foolish  to  part 
ivith  money.     I  have  them  all  booked  here,  and  may  some 

day    pay when    convenient ;    but,    at    present,    most 

decidedly  it  is  not  so."  The  Major  put  the  notes  into 
his  pocket,  and  the  conversation  was  dropped. 

The  next  morning  we  had  ordered  our  horses,  when 
Timothy  came  up  to  me,  and  made  a  sign,  as  we  were 
at  breakfast,  for  me  to  come  out.     I  followed  him. 

**Oh!  sir,  I  could  not  help  telling  you,  but  there  is 
a  gentleman  with " 


142  Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father 

"  With  what  ? "  replied  I,  hastily. 

"With  your  nose,  sir,  exactly — and  in  other  respects 
very  like  you — just  about  the  age  your  father  should  be." 

"  Where  is  he,  Timothy  ? "  replied  I,  all  my  feelings 
in  *  search  of  my  father,'  rushing  into  my  mind. 

"Down  below,  sir,  about  to  set  off  in  a  postchaise  and 
four,  now  waiting  at  the  door." 

I  ran  down  with  my  breakfast  napkin  in  my  hand,  and 
hastened  to  the  portico  of  the  hotel — he  was  in  his  carriage, 
and  the  porter  was  then  shutting  the  door.  I  looked  at 
him.  He  was,  as  Timothy  said,  very  like  me  indeed,  the 
nose  exact.     I  was  breathless,  and  I  continued  to  gaze. 

"  All  right,"  cried  the  ostler. 

"  I  beg  your  pardon,  sir, "  said  I,  addressing  the 

gentleman  in  the  carriage,  who  perceiving  a  napkin  in 
my  hand,  probably  took  me  for  one  of  the  waiters,  for 
he  replied  very  abruptly,  *  I  have  remembered  you  ; '  and 
pulling  up  the  glass,  away  whirled  the  chariot,  the  nave 
of  the  hind  wheel  striking  me  a  blow  on  the  thigh  which 
numbed  it  so,  that  it  was  with  difficulty  I  could  limp  up 
to  our  apartments,  when  I  threw  myself  on  the  sofa  in 
a  state  of  madness  and  despair. 

"  Good  heavens,  Newland,  what  is  the  matter  ?"  cried 
the  Major. 

"  Matter,"  replied  I,  faintly.     "  I  have  seen  my  father." 

"  Your  father,  Newland  ?  you  must  be  mad.  He  was 
dead  before  you  could  recollect  him — at  least  so  you 
told  me.  How  then,  even  if  it  were  his  ghost,  could 
you  have  recognised  him  ?  " 

The  Major's  remarks  reminded  me  of  the  imprudence 
I  had  been  guilty  of. 

"Major,"  replied  I,  "I  believe  I  am  very  absurd; 
but  he  was  so  like  me,  and  I  have  so  often  longed  after 
my  father,  so  long  wished  to  see  him  face  to  face — that — 
that I'm  a  great  fool,  that's  the  fact." 

"You  must  go  to  the  next  world,  my  good  fellow,  to 
meet  him  face  to  face,  that's  clear ;  and  I  presume,  upon 
a  little  consideration,  you  will  feel  inclined  to  postpone 


Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father  143 

your  journey.  Very  often  in  your  sleep  I  have  heard  you 
talk  about  your  father,  and  wondered  why  you  should 
think  so  much  about  him." 

"  I  cannot  help  it,"  replied  I.  "  From  my  earliest  days 
my  father  has  ever  been  in  my  thoughts." 

"  I  can  only  say,  that  very  few  sons  are  half  so  dutiful 
to  their  fathers'  memories — but  finish  your  breakfast,  and 
then  we  start  for  London." 

I  complied  with  his  request  as  well  as  I  could,  and  we 
were  soon  on  our  road.  I  fell  into  a  reverie — my  object 
was  to  again  find  out  this  person,  and  I  quietly  directed 
Timothy  to  ascertain  from  the  post-boys  the  directions  he 
gave  at  the  last  stage.  The  Major  perceiving  me  not 
inclined  to  talk,  made  but  few  observations  ;  one,  how- 
ever struck  me.  **  Windermear,"  said  he,  "  I  recollect 
one  day,  when  I  was  praising  you,  said  carelessly,  *  that 
you  were  a  fine  young  man,  but  a  little  tete  montee  upon 
one  point.'  I  see  now  it  must  have  been  upon  this."  I 
made  no  reply,  but  it  certainly  was  a  strange  circumstance 
that  the  Major  never  had  any  suspicions  on  this  point — yet 
he  certainly  never  had.  We  had  once  or  twice  talked  over 
my  affairs.  I  had  led  him  to  suppose  that  my  father  and 
mother  died  in  my  infancy,  and  that  I  should  have  had  a 
large  fortune  when  I  came  of  age ;  but  this  had  been 
entirely  by  indirect  replies,  not  by  positive  assertions ;  the 
fact  was,  that  the  Major,  who  was  an  adept  in  all  deceit, 
never  had  an  idea  that  he  could  have  been  deceived  by  one 
so  young,  so  prepossessing,  and  apparently  so  ingenuous 
as  myself.  He  had,  in  fact,  deceived  himself.  His  ideas 
of  my  fortune  arose  entirely  from  my  asking  him,  whether 
he  would  have  refused  the  name  of  Japhet  for  ten  thousand 
pounds  per  annum.  Lord  Windermear,  after  having 
introduced  me,  did  not  consider  it  at  all  necessary  to 
acquaint  the  Major  with  my  real  history,  as  it  was  im- 
parted to  him  in  confidence.  He  allowed  matters  to  take 
their  course,  and  me  to  work  my  own  way  in  the  world. 
Thus  do  the  most  cunning  overreach  themselves,  and  with 
their  eyes  open  to  any  deceit  on  the  part  of  others,  prove 
quite  blind  when  they  deceive  themselves. 


144  Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father 

Timothy  could  not  obtain  any  intelligence  from  the 
people  of  the  inn  at  the  last  stage,  except  that  the  chariot 
had  proceeded  to  London.  We  arrived  late  at  night, 
and,  much  exhausted,  I  was  glad  to  go  to  bed. 


Chapter  XXVI 

In  following  my  nose,  I  narrowly  escaped  being  nosed  by  a  Beak. 

And  as  I  lay  in  my  bed,  thinking  that  I  was  now  nearly 
twenty  years  old,  and  had  not  yet  made  any  discovery, 
my  heart  sank  within  me.  My  monomania  returned  with 
redoubled  force,  and  I  resolved  to  renew  my  search  with 
vigour.  So  I  told  Timothy  the  next  morning,  when  he 
came  into  my  room,  but  from  him  I  received  little  consola- 
tion;  he  advised  me  to  look  out  for  a  good  match  in  a 
rich  wife,  and  leave  time  to  develop  the  mystery  of  my 
birth ;  pointing  out  the  Httle  chance  I  ever  had  of  success. 

Town  was  not  full,  the  season  had  hardly  commenced, 
and  we  had  few  invitations  or  visits  to  distract  my  thoughts 
from  their  object.  My  leg  became  so  painful,  that  for  a 
week  I  was  on  the  sofa,  Timothy  every  day  going  out  to 
ascertain  if  he  could  find  the  person  whom  we  had  seen 
resembling  me,  and  every  evening  returning  without 
success,  I  became  melancholy  and  nervous.  Carbonnell 
could  not  imagine  what  was  the  matter  with  me.  At  last 
I  was  able  to  walk,  and  I  sallied  forth,  perambulating, 
or  rather  running  through  street  after  street,  looking  into 
every  carriage,  so  as  to  occasion  surprise  to  the  occupants, 
who  believed  me  mad ;  my  dress  and  person  were  dis- 
ordered, for  I  had  become  indifferent  to  it,  and  Timothy 
himself  believed  that  I  was  going  out  of  my  senses. 

At  last,  after  we  had  been  in  town  about  five  weeks,  I 
saw  the  very  object  of  my  search,  seated  in  a  carriage, 
of  a  dark  brown  colour,  arms  painted  in  shades,  so  as  not 
to  be  distinguishable  but  at  a  near  approach  ;  his  hat  was 
off,   and  he   sat  upright  and  formally.     '*  That  is  he !  " 


Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father  145 

ejaculated  I,  and  away  I  ran  after  the  carriage.  "  It  is  the 
nose,"  cried  I,  as  I  ran  down  the  street,  knocking  every 
one  to  the  right  and  left.  I  lost  my  hat,  but  fearful  of 
losing  sight  of  the  carriage,  I  hastened  on,  when  I  heard 
a  cry  of  "  Stop  him,  stop  him !  "  "  Stop  him,"  cried  I, 
also,  referring  to  the  gentleman  in  black  in  the  carriage. 

"  That  won't  do,"  cried  a  man,  seizing  me  by  the  collar  ; 
"  I  know  a  trick  worth  two  of  that." 

"  Let  me  go,"  roared  I,  struggling ;  but  he  only  held 
me  the  faster.  I  tussled  with  the  man  until  my  coat  and 
shirt  were  torn,  but  in  vain ;  the  crowd  now  assembled, 
and  I  was  fast.  The  fact  was,  that  a  pickpocket  had 
been  exercising  his  vocation  at  the  time  that  I  was  running 
past,  and  from  my  haste,  and  loss  of  my  hat,  I  was 
supposed  to  be  the  criminal.  The  police  took  charge  of 
me — I  pleaded  innocence  in  vain,  and  I  was  dragged 
before  the  magistrate,  at  Marlborough  Street.  My 
appearance,  the  disorder  of  my  dress,  my  coat  and  shirt  in 
ribbons,  with  no  hat,  were  certainly  not  at  all  in  my 
favour,  when  I  made  my  appearance,  led  in  by  two  Bow 
Street  officers. 

"  "Whom  have  we  here  ?  "  inquired  the  magistrate. 

"  A  pickpocket,  sir,"  replied  they. 

"  Ah  !  one  of  the  swell  mob,"  replied  he.  "  Are  there 
any  witnesses  ? " 

"  Yes,  sir,"  replied  a  young  man,  coming  forward.  "  I 
was  walking  up  Bond  Street,  when  I  feit  a  tug  at  my 
pocket,  and  when  I  turned  round,  this  chap  was  running 
away." 

*'  Can  you  swear  to  his  person  ? " 

There  were  plenty  to  swear  that  I  was  the  person  who 
ran  away. 

"  Now,  sir,  have  you  anything  to  offer  in  your  defence  ?  " 
said  the  magistrate. 

"  Yes,  sir,"  replied  I;  **I  certainly  was  running  down 
the  street;  and  it  may  be,  for  all  I  know  or  care,  that 
this  person's  pocket  may  have  been  picked — but  I  did  not 
pick  it.     I  am  a  gentleman." 


14^  Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father 

"  All  your  fraternity  lay  claim  to  gentility,"  replied  the 
magistrate  ;  "  perhaps  you  will  state  why  you  were 
running  down  the  street." 

**I  was  running  after  a  carriage,  sir,  that  I  might 
speak  to  the  person  inside  of  it." 

"  Pray  who  was  the  person  inside  ?  " 

"  I  do  not  know,  sir." 

**Why  should  you  run  after  a  person  you  do  not 
know." 

"  It  was  because  of  his  noseP 

"His  msef^^  replied  the  magistrate,  angrily.  "Do 
you  think  to  trifle  with  me,  sir  ?  You  shall  now  follow 
your  own  nose  to  prison.     Make  out  his  committal." 

"  As  you  please,  sir,"  replied  I ;  "  but  still  I  have 
told  you  the  truth ;  if  you  will  allow  any  one  to  take  a 
note,  I  will  soon  prove  my  respectability.  I  ask  it  in 
common  justice." 

"Be  it  so,"  replied  the  magistrate  ;  "let  him  sit  down 
within  the  bar  till  the  answer  comes." 

In  less  than  an  hour,  my  note  to  Major  Carbonnell 
was  answered  by  his  appearance  in  person,  followed  by 
Timothy.  Carbonnell  walked  up  to  the  magistrate,  while 
Timothy  asked  the  officers  in  an  angry  tone,  what  they 
had  been  doing  to  his  master.  This  rather  startled  them, 
but  both  they  and  the  magistrate  were  much  surprised 
when  the  Major  asserted  that  I  was  his  most  particular 
friend,  Mr  Newland,  who  possessed  ten  thousand  pounds 
per  annum,  and  who  was  as  well  known  in  fashionable 
society,  as  any  young  man  of  fortune  about  town.  The 
magistrate  explained  what  had  passed,  and  asked  the 
Major  if  I  was  not  a  little  deranged  ;  but  the  Major,  who 
perceived  what  was  the  cause  of  my  strange  behaviour, 
told  him  that  somebody  had  insulted  me,  and  that  I  was 
very  anxious  to  lay  hold  of  the  person,  who  had  avoided 
me,  and  who  must  have  been  in  that  carriage. 

"I  am  afraid,  that  after  your  explanation.  Major 
Carbonnell,  I  must,  as  a  magistrate,  bind  over  your  friend, 
Mr  Newland,  to  keep  the  peace." 


Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father  147 

To  this  I  consented,  the  Major  and  Timothy  being 
taken  as  recognisances,  and  then  I  was  permitted  to 
depart.  The  Major  sent  for  a  hackney  coach,  and  when 
we  were  going  home  he  pointed  out  to  me  the  folly  of 
my  conduct,  and  received  my  promise  to  be  more  careful 
for  the  future.  Thus  did  this  affair  end,  and  for  a  short 
time  I  was  more  careful  in  my  appearance,  and  not  so 
very  anxious  to  look  into  carriages  •,  still,  however,  the 
idea  haunted  me,  and  I  was  often  very  melancholy.  It 
was  about  a  month  afterwards,  that  I  was  sauntering  with 
the  Major,  who  now  considered  me  to  be  insane  upon 
that  point,  and  who  would  seldom  allow  me  to  go  out 
without  him,  when  I  again  perceived  the  same  carriage, 
with  the  gentleman  inside  as  before. 

"  There  he  is.  Major,"  cried  I. 

"  There  is  who  ? "  replied  he. 

"  The  man  so  like  my  father." 

**  What,  in  that  carriage  ?  that  is  the  Bishop  of  E , 

my  good  fellow.  What  a  strange  idea  you  have  in  your 
head,  Newland  -,  it  almost  amounts  to  madness.  Do  not 
be  staring  in  that  way — come  along." 

Still  my  head  was  turned  quite  round,  looking  at  the 
carriage  after  it  had  passed,  till  it  was  out  of  sight ;  but 
I  knew  who  the  party  was,  and  for  the  time  I  was 
satisfied,  as  I  determined  to  find  out  his  address,  and  call 
upon  him.  I  narrated  to  Timothy  what  had  occurred, 
and  referring  to  the  Red  Book,  I  looked  out  the  bishop's 
town  address,  and  the  next  day,  after  breakfast,  having 
arranged  my  toilet  with  the  utmost  precision,  I  made  an 
excuse  to  the  Major,  and  set  off  to  Portland  Place. 


Chapter  XXVII 

A  Chapter  of  Mistakes — No  benefit  of  Clergy — I  attack  a  Bishop,  and  am 
beaten  off — The  Major  hedges  upon  the  filly  stakes. 

My  hand  trembled  as   I   knocked   at   the  door.     It  was 
opened.     I   sent   in   my  card,  requesting   the  honour  of 


148  Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father 

an  audience  with  his  lordship.  After  waiting  a  few 
minutes  in  an  ante-room,  I  was  ushered  in.  "  My  lord," 
said  I,  in  a  flurried  manner,  "will  you  allow  me  to  have 
a  few  minutes'  conversation  with  you  alone  ? " 

"  This  gentleman  is  my  secretary,  sir,  but  if  you  wish 
it,  certainly,  for  although  he  is  my  confidant,  I  have  no 
right  to  insist  that  he  shall  be  yours.  Mr  Temple,  will 
you  oblige  me  by  going  up  stairs  for  a  little  while." 

The  secretary  quitted  the  room,  the  bishop  pointed  to  a 
chair,  and  I  sat  down.  I  looked  him  earnestly  in  the  face 
— the  nose  was  exact,  and  I  imagined  that  even  in  the 
other  features  I  could  distinguish  a  resemblance.  I  was 
satisfied  that  I  had  a  last  gained  the  object  of  my  search. 
"  I  believe,  sir,"  observed  I,  "  that  you  will  acknowledge, 
that  in  the  heat  and  impetuosity  of  youth,  we  often  rush 
into  hasty  and  improvident  connections." 

I  paused,  with  my  eyes  fixed  upon  his.  **  Very  true, 
my  young  sir ;  and  when  we  do  we  are  ashamed,  and 
repent  of  them  afterwards,"  replied  the  bishop,  rather 
astonished. 

"  I  grant  that,  sir,"  repHed  I,  "  but  at  the  same  time, 
we  must  feel  that  we  must  abide  by  the  results,  however 
unpleasant." 

**  When  we  do  wrong,  Mr  Newland,"  replied  the  bishop, 
first  looking  at  my  card,  and  then  upon  me,  "  we  find  that 
we  are  not  only  to  be  punished  in  the  next  world,  but 
suffer  for  it  also  in  this.  I  trust  you  have  no  reason  for 
such  suffering  ?  " 

"  Unfortunately,  the  sins  of  the  fathers  are  visited  upon 
the  children,  and,  in  that  view,  I  may  say  that  I  have 
suffered." 

"My  dear  sir,"  replied  the  bishop,  "I  trust  you  will 
excuse  me,  when  I  say,  that  my  time  is  rather  valuable  ;  if 
you  have  anything  of  importance  to  communicate — any- 
thing upon  which  you  would  ask  my  advice — for  assistance 
you  do  not  appear  to  require,  do  me  the  favour  to  proceed 
at  once  to  the  point." 

"  I  will,  sir,  be  as  concise  as  the  matter  will  admit  of. 


Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father  149 

Allow  me,  then,  to  ask  you  a  few  questions,  and  I  trust  to 
your  honour,  and  the  dignity  of  your  profession,  for  a 
candid  answer.  Did  you  not  marry  a  young  woman  early 
in  life  ?  and  were  you  not  very  much  pressed  in  your 
circumstances  ? " 

The  bishop  stared.  **■  Really,  Mr  Newland,  it  is  a 
strange  question,  and  I  cannot  imagine  to  what  it  may  lead, 
but  still  I  will  answer  it.  I  did  marry  early  in  life,  and  I 
was,  at  that  time,  not  in  very  affluent  circumstances." 

**  You  had  a  child  by  that  marriage— your  eldest  born 
—a  boy  !  " 

"  That  is  also  true,  Mr  Newland,"  replied  the  bishop, 
gravely. 

"  How  long  is  it  since  you  have  seen  him  ?  " 

'*It  is  many  years,"  replied  the  bishop,  putting  his 
handkerchief  up  to  his  eyes. 

"  Answer  me,  now,  sir  ; — did  you  not  desert  him  ?  " 

"  No,  no  !  "  replied  the  bishop.  "It  is  strange  that  you 
should  appear  to  know  so  much  about  the  matter,  Mr 
Newland,  as  you  could  have  hardly  been  born.  I  was  poor 
then — very  poor  ;  but  although  I  could  ill  afford  it,  he  had 
fifty  pounds  from  me." 

"  But,  sir,"  replied  I,  much  agitated  •,  "  why  have  you 
not  reclaimed  him  ? " 

"I  would  have  reclaimed  him,  Mr  Newland — but  what 
could  I  do — he  was  not  to  be  reclaimed ;  and  now — he  is 
lost  for  ever." 

'*  Surely,  sir,  in  your  present  affluence,  you  must  wish  to 
see  him  again  ?  " 

**  He  died,  and  I  trust  he  has  gone  to  heaven,"  replied 
the  bishop,  covering  up  his  face. 

"No,  sir,"  replied  I,  throwing  myself  on  my  knees 
before  him,  "he  did  not  die,  here  he  is  at  your  feet,  to  ask 
your  blessing." 

The  bishop  sprang  from  his  chair.  "  What  does  this 
mean,  sir  ?  "  said  he,  with  astonishment.     "  You  my  son  !  " 

"  Yes,  reverend  father — your  son  j  who,  with  fifty 
pounds  you  left " 


15^  Ja-phet,  in  Search  of  a  Father 

"  On  the  top  of  the  Portsmouth  coach  !  " 

"No,  sir,  in  the  basket, ^^ 

"  My  son !  sir, — impossible  ;  he  died  in  the  hospital." 

"  No,  sir,  he  has  come  out  of  the  hospital, ^^  replied  I ; 
"  and  as  you  perceive,  safe  and  well." 

"  Either,  sir,  this  must  be  some  strange  mistake,  or  you 
must  be  trifling  with  me,"  replied  his  lordship  ;  "  for,  sir, 
I  was  at  his  death-bed,  and  followed  him  to  his  grave." 

"  Are  you  sure  of  that,  sir  ?  "  replied  I,  starting  up  with 
amazement. 

"  I  wish  that  I  was  not,  sir — for  I  am  now  childless ; 
but  pray,  sir,  who,  and  what  are  you,  who  know  so  much 
of  my  former  life,  and  who  would  have  thus  imposed  upon 
me  ? " 

"  Imposed  upon  you,  sir  !  "  replied  I,  perceiving  that  I 
was  in  error.  "  Alas  !  I  would  do  no  such  thing.  Who 
am  I  ?  I  am  a  young  man  who  is  in  search  of  his  father. 
Your  face,  and  especially  your  nose,  so  resembled  mine,  that 
I  made  sure  that  I  had  succeeded.  Pity  me,  sir — pity  me," 
continued  I,  covering  up  my  face  with  my  hands. 

The  bishop,  perceiving  that  there  was  little  of  the 
impostor  in  my  appearance,  and  that  I  was  much  affected, 
allowed  a  short  time  for  me  to  recover  myself,  and  then 
entered  into  an  explanation.  When  a  curate,  he  had  had  an 
only  son,  very  wild,  who  would  go  to  sea  in  spite  of  his 
remonstrances.  He  saw  him  depart  by  the  Portsmouth 
coach,  and  gave  him  the  sum  mentioned.  His  son  received 
a  mortal  wound  in  action,  and  was  sent  to  the  Plymouth 
hospital,  where  he  died.  I  then  entered  into  my  explan- 
ation in  a  few  concise  sentences,  and  with  a  heart  beating 
with  disappointment,  took  my  leave.  The  bishop  shook 
hands  with  me  as  I  quitted  the  room,  and  wished  me  better 
success  at  my  next  application. 

I  went  home  almost  in  despair.  Timothy  consoled  me 
as  well  as  he  could,  and  advised  me  to  go  as  much  as 
possible  into  society,  as  the  most  likely  chance  of  obtaining 
my  wish,  not  that  he  considered  there  was  any  chance,  but 
he  thought  that  amusement  would  restore  me  to  my  usual 


Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father  151 

spirits.  **  I  will  go  and  visit  little  Fleta,"  replied  I,  "  for 
a  few  days ;  the  sight  of  her  will  do  me  more  good  than 
anything  else."     And  the  next  day  I  set  off  for  the  town 

of , where  I  found  the  dear  little  girl,  much  grown, 

and  much  improved.  I  remained  with  her  for  a  week, 
walking  with  her  in  the  country,  amusing  her,  and  amused 
myself  with  our  conversation.  At  the  close  of  the  week  I 
bade  her  farewell,  and  returned  to  the  Major's  lodgings. 

I  was  astonished  to  find  him  in  deep  mourning.  "  My 
dear  Carbonnell,"  said  I,  inquiringly,  "I  hope  no  severe 
loss?" 

"Nay,  my  dear  Newland,  I  should  be  a  hypocrite  if  I 
said  so ;  for  there  never  was  a  more  merry  mourner,  and 

that's  the  truth  of  it.     Mr  M ,  who,  you  know,  stood 

between  me  and  the  peerage,  has  been  drowned  in  the 
Rhone  ;  I  now  have  a  squeak  for  it.  His  wife  has  one 
daughter,  and  is  enceinte.  Should  the  child  prove  a  boy, 
I  am  done  for,  but  if  a  girl,  I  must  then  come  in  to  the 
barony,  and  fifteen  thousand  pounds  per  annum.  How- 
ever, I've  hedged  pretty  handsomely." 

**  How  do  you  mean  ? " 

**Why  they  say  that  when  a  woman  commences  with 
girls,  she  generally  goes  on,  and  the  odds  are  two  to  one 

that  Mrs  M has  a  girl.     I  have  taken  the  odds  at  the 

clubs  to  the  amount  of  fifteen  thousand  pounds ;  so  if  it 
be  a  girl  I  shall  have  to  pay  that  out  of  my  fifteen  thousand 
pounds  per  annum,  as  soon  as  I  fall  into  it ;  if  it  be  a  boy, 
and  I  am  floored,  I  shall  pocket  thirty  thousand  pounds  by 
way  of  consolation  for  the  disappointment.  They  are  all 
good  men." 

**  Yes,  but  they  know  you  never  pay." 

"  They  know  I  never  do  now,  because  I  have  no  money ; 
but  they  know  I  will  pay  if  I  come  into  the  estate  ;  and  so 
I  will,  most  honourably,  besides  a  few  more  thousands 
that  I  have  in  my  book." 

"  I  congratulate  you,  with  all  my  heart.  Major.  How 
old  is  the  present  Lord  B ? " 

**  I  have  just  been  examining  the  peerage — he  is  sixty- 


^52  Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father 

two ;  but  he  is  very  fresh  and  hearty,  and  may  live  a  long 
while  yet.  By-the-bye,  Newland,  I  committed  a  great 
error  last  night  at  the  club.  I  played  pretty  high,  and 
lost  a  great  deal  of  money." 

"  That  is  unfortunate." 

"  That  was  not  the  error ;  I  actually  paid  all  my  losings, 
Newland,  and  it  has  reduced  the  stock  amazingly.  I  lost 
seven  hundred  and  fifty  pounds.  I  know  I  ought  not  to 
have  paid  away  your  money,  but  the  fact  was,  as  I  was 
hedging,  it  would  not  do  not  to  have  paid,  as  I  could  not 
have  made  up  my  book  as  I  wished.     It  is,  however,  only 

waiting  a  few  weeks,  till  Mrs  M decides  my  fate, 

and  then,  either  one  way  or  the  other,  I  shall  have  money 
enough.  If  your  people  won't  give  you  any  more  till  you 
are  of  age,  why  we  must  send  to  a  little  friend  of  mine, 
that's  all,  and  you  shall  borrow  for  both  of  us." 

"  Borrow  !  "  replied  I,  not  much  liking  the  idea ;  *'  they 
will  never  lend  me  money." 

**  "Won't  they?"  replied  the  Major;  **no  fear  of  that. 
Your  signature,  and  my  introduction,  will  be  quite 
sufficient." 

"We  had  better  try  to  do  without  it,  Major;  I  do  not 
much  like  it." 

"  "Well,  if  we  can,  we  will ;  but  I  have  not  fifty  pounds 
left  in  my  desk ;  how  much  have  you  ? " 

**  About  twenty,"  replied  I,  in  despair  at  this  intelli- 
gence; "but  I  think  there  is  a  small  sum  left  at  the 
banker's  -,  I  will  go  and  see."  I  took  up  my  hat  and  set 
off,  to  ascertain  what  funds  we  might  have  in  store. 


Chapter  XXVIII 

I  am  over  head  and  ears  in  trouble  about  a  lady's  ear-rings ;  commit  myself 
sadly,  and  am  very  nearly  committed. 

I  MUST  say,  that  I  was  much  annoyed  at  this  intelligence. 
The  money-lenders   would  not  be   satisfied   unless   they 


Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father  153 

knew  where  my  estates  were,  and  had  examined  the  will 
at  Doctors'  Commons  ;  then  all  would  be  exposed  to  the 
Major,  and  I  should  be  considered  by  him  as  an  impostor. 
I  walked  down  Pall  Mall  in  a  very  unhappy  mood,  so  deep 
in  thought,  that  I  ran  against  a  lady,  who  was  stepping 
out  of  her  carriage  at  a  fashionable  shop.  She  turned 
round,  and  I  was  making  my  best  apologies  to  a  very 
handsome  woman  when  her  ear-rings  caught  my  attention. 
They  were  of  alternate  coral  and  gold,  and  the  fac-simile 
in  make  to  the  chain  given  by  Nattee  to  Fleta.  During 
my  last  visit,  I  had  often  had  the  chain  in  my  hand,  and 
particularly  marked  the  workmanship.  To  make  more 
sure,  I  followed  into  the  shop,  and  stood  behind  her, 
carefully  examining  them,  as  she  looked  over  a  quantity  of 
laces.  There  could  be  no  doubt.  I  waited  till  the  lady 
rose  to  go  away,  and  then  addressed  the  shopman,  asking 
the  lady's  name.     He  did  not  know — she  was  a  stranger ; 

but  perhaps  Mr  H ,  the  master,  did,  and  he  went  back 

to  answer  the  question.     Mr  H being  at  that  moment 

busy,  the  man  stayed  so  long,  that  I  heard  the  carriage 
drive  off.  Fearful  of  losing  sight  of  the  lady,  I  took  to 
my  heels,  and  ran  out  of  the  shop.  My  sudden  flight 
from  the  counter,  covered  with  lace,  made  them  imagine 
that  I  had  stolen  some,  and  they  cried  out,  "  Stop  thief," 
as  loud  as  they  could,  springing  over  the  counter,  and 
pursuing  me  as  I  pursued  the  carriage,  which  was  driven 
at  a  rapid  pace. 

"  A  man  perceiving  me  running,  and  others,  without 
their  hats,  following,  with  the  cries  of  "  Stop  thief,"  put 
out  his  leg,  and  I  fell  on  the  pavement,  the  blood  rushing 
in  torrents  from  my  nose.  I  was  seized,  roughly  handled, 
and  again  handed  over  to  the  police,  who  carried  me 
before  the  same  magistrate  in  Marlborough  Street. 

"  What  is  this  ?  "  demanded  the  magistrate. 

**  A  shoplifter,  your  worship." 

**  I  am  not,  sir,"  replied  I ;  "  you  know  me  well 
enough,  I  am  Mr  Newland." 

'*  Mr  Newland  ! "  replied  the  magistrate,  suspiciously  ; 


154  Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father 

"  this  is  strange,  a  second  time  to  appear  before  me  upon 
such  a  charge." 

"  And  just  as  innocent  as  before,  sir." 

"  You'll  excuse  me,  sir,  but  I  must  have  my  suspicions 
this  time.     Where  is  the  evidence  ?  " 

The  people  of  the  shop  then  came  forward,  and  stated 
what  had  occurred.  "Let  him  be  searched,"  said  the 
magistrate. 

I  was  searched,  but  nothing  was  found  upon  me.  **  Are 
you  satisfied  now,  sir  ?  "  inquired  I. 

"By  no  means.  Let  the  people  go  back  and  look 
over  their  laces,  and  see  if  any  are  missing ;  in  the  mean- 
time I  shall  detain  you,  for  it  is  very  easy  to  get  rid  of 
a  small  article,  such  as  lace,  when  you  are  caught." 

The  men  went  away,  and  I  wrote  a  note  to  Major 
Carbonnell,  requesting  his  attendance.  He  arrived  at  the 
same  time  as  the  shopman,  and  I  told  him  what  had 
happened.  The  shopman  declared  that  the  stock  was 
not  correct ;  as  far  as  they  could  judge,  there  were  two 
pieces  of  lace  missing. 

"  If  so,  I  did  not  take  them,"  replied  L 

"  Upon  my  honour,  Mr  B ,"  said  the  Major,  to  the 

magistrate,  "it  is  very  hard  for  a  gentleman  to  be  treated 
in  this  manner.  This  is  the  second  time  that  I  have  been 
sent  for  to  vouch  for  his  respectability." 

"  Very  true,  sir,"  replied  the  magistrate  ;  "  but  allow 
me  to  ask  Mr  Newland,  as  he  calls  himself,  what  induced 
him  to  follow  a  lady  into  the  shop  ? " 

"  Her  ear-rings,"  replied  L 

"  Her  ear-rings !  why,  sir,  the  last  time  you  were 
brought  before  me,  you  said  it  was  after  a  gentleman's 
nose — now  it  appears  you  were  attracted  by  a  lady's 
ears  ;  and  pray,  sir,  what  induced  you  to  run  out  of  the 
shop  ? " 

"Because  I  wanted  particularly  to  inquire  about  her 
ear-rings,  sir." 

"  I  cannot  understand  these  paltry  excuses  ;  there  are, 
it  appears,  two  pieces  of  lace  missing.     I  must  remand 


Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father  155 

you  for  further  examination,  sir  ;  and  you  also,  sir,"  said 
the  magistrate,  to  Major  Carbonnell ;  **  for  if  he  is  a 
swindler,  you  must  be  an  accomplice." 

"  Sir,"  replied  Major  Carbonnell,  sneeringly,  **  you  are 
certainly  a  very  good  judge  of  a  gentleman,  when  you 
happen  by  accident  to  be  in  his  company.  With  your 
leave,  I  will  send  a  note  to  another  confederate." 

The  Major  then  wrote  a  note  to  Lord  Windermear, 
which  he  despatched  by  Timothy,  who,  hearing  I  was  in 
trouble,  had  accompanied  the  Major.  And  while  he  was 
away,  the  Major  and  I  sat  down,  he  giving  himself  all 
manner  of  airs,  much  to  the  annoyance  of  the  magis- 
trate, who  at  last  threatened  to  commit  him  immediately. 
"You'll  repent  this,"  replied  the  Major,  who  perceived 
Lord  Windermear  coming  in. 

**  You  shall  repent  it,  sir,  by  God,"  cried  the  magistrate, 
in  a  great  passion. 

"Put  five  shillings  in  the  box  for  swearing,  Mr  B . 

You  fine  other  people,"  said  the  Major.  "  Here  is  my 
other  confederate,  Lord  Windermear." 

"  Carbonnell,"  said  Lord  Windermear,  "  what  is  all 
this  ? " 

"  Nothing,  my  lord,  except  that  our  friend  Newland 
is  taken  up  for  shoplifting,  because  he  thought  proper  to 
run  after  a  pretty  woman's  carriage  ;  and  I  am  accused 
by  his  worship  of  being  his  confederate.  I  could  forgive 
his  suspicions  of  Mr  Newland  in  that  plight  5  but  as  for 
his  taking  me  for  one  of  the  swell  mob,  it  proves  a 
great  deficiency  of  judgment  j  perhaps  he  will  commit 
your  lordship  also,  as  he  may  not  be  aware  that  your 
lordship's  person  is  above  caption." 

"  I  can  assure  you,  sir,"  said  Lord  Windermear,  proudly, 
"  that  this  is  my  relative.  Major  Carbonnell,  and  the 
other  is  my  friend,  Mr  Newland.  I  will  bail  them  for 
any  sum  you  please." 

The  magistrate  felt  astonished  and  annoyed,  for,  after 
all,  he  had  only  done  his  duty.  Before  he  could  reply, 
a  man  came  from  the  shop  to  say  that  the  laces  had  been 


15^  J^phet,  in  Search  of  a  Father 

found  all  right.  Lord  Windermear  then  took  me  aside, 
and  I  narrated  what  had  happened.  He  recollected  the 
story  of  Fleta  in  my  narrative  of  my  life,  and  felt  that 
I  was  right  in  trying  to  find  out  who  the  lady  was. 
The  magistrate  now  apologised  for  the  detention,  but 
explained  to  his  lordship  how  I  had  before  made  my 
appearance  upon  another  charge,  and  with  a  low  bow 
we  were  dismissed. 

**My  dear  Mr  Newland,"  said  his  lordship,  "I  trust 
that  this  will  be  a  warning  to  you,  not  to  run  after  other 
people's  noses  and  ear-rings  j  at  the  same  time,  I  will 
certainly  keep  a  look-out  for  those  very  ear-rings  myself. 
Major,  I  wish  you  a  good  morning." 

His  lordship  then  shook  us  both  by  the  hand,  and 
saying  that  he  should  be  glad  to  see  more  of  me  than  he 
latterly  had  done,  stepped  into  his  carriage  and  drove  off. 

"  What  the  devil  did  his  lordship  mean  about  ear-rings, 
Newland  ?  "  inquired  the  Major. 

"  I  told  him  that  I  was  examining  the  lady's  ear-rings, 
as  very  remarkable,"  replied  I. 

"  You  appear  to  be  able  to  deceive  everybody  but 
me,  my  good  fellow.  I  know  that  you  were  examining 
the  lady  herself."  I  left  the  Major  in  his  error,  by 
making  no  reply. 


Chapter  XXIX 

I  borrow  money  upon  my  estate,  and  upon  very  favourable  terms. 

When  I  came  down  to  breakfast  the  next  morning,  the 
Major  said,  "  My  dear  Newland,  I  have  taken  the  Hberty 
of  requesting  a  very  old  friend  of  mine  to  come  and  meet 
you  this  morning.  I  will  not  disguise  from  you  that  it  is 
Emmanuel,  the  money-lender.  Money  you  must  have 
until  my  affairs  are  decided,  one  way  or  the  other ;  and,  in 
this  instance,  I  will  most  faithfully  repay  the  sum  borrowed, 
as  soon  as  I  receive  the  amount  of  my  bets,  or  am  certain 


Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father  157 

of  succeeding  to  the  title,  which  is  one  and  the  same 
thing." 

I  bit  my  lips,  for  I  was  not  a  little  annoyed ;  but  what 
could  be  done  ?  I  must  have  either  confessed  my  real 
situation  to  the  Major,  or  have  appeared  to  raise  scruples, 
which,  as  the  supposed  heir  to  a  large  fortune,  would  have 
appeared  to  him  to  be  very  frivolous.  I  thought  it  better 
to  let  the  affair  take  its  chance.  "  Well,"  replied  I,  "  if  it 
must  be,  it  must  be ;  but  it  shall  be  on  my  own  terms." 

**  Nay,"  observed  the  Major,  "  there  is  no  fear  but  that 
he  will  consent,  and  without  any  trouble." 

After  a  moment's  reflection  I  went  up  stairs  and  rang 
for  Timothy.  **  Tim,"  said  I,  "  hear  me  ;  I  now  make  you 
a  solemn  promise,  on  my  honour  as  a  gentleman,  that  I  will 
never  borrow  money  upon  interest,  and  until  you  release 
me  from  it,  I  shall  adhere  to  my  word." 

**  Very  well,  sir,"  replied  Timothy ;  **  I  guess  your 
reason  for  so  doing,  and  I  expect  you  will  keep  your  word. 
Is  that  all  ? " 

"  Yes ;  now  you  may  take  up  the  urn." 

We  had  finished  our  breakfast,  when  Timothy  an- 
nounced Mr  Emmanuel,  who  followed  him  into  the  room. 
**  Well,  old  cent  per  cent,  how  are  you  ?"  said  the  Major. 
"  Allow  me  to  introduce  my  most  particular  friend,  Mr 
Newland." 

"  Auh !  Master  Major,"  replied  the  descendant  of 
Abraham,  a  little  puny  creature,  bent  double  with  in- 
firmity, and  carrying  one  hand  behind  his  back,  as  if  to 
counterbalance  the  projection  of  his  head  and  shoulders. 
"  You  vash  please  to  call  me  shent  per  shent.  I  wish  I 
vash  able  to  make  de  monies  pay  that.  Mr  Newland,  can 
I  be  of  any  little  shervice  to  you  ? " 

'*  Sit  down,  sit  down,  Emmanuel.  You  have  my 
warrant  for  Mr  Newland's  respectability,  and  the  sooner 
we  get  over  the  business  the  better." 

**  Auh,  Mr  Major,  it  ish  true,  you  was  recommend  many 
good — no,  not  always  good — customers  to  me,  and  I  was 
very  much  obliged.     Vat  can  I  do  for  your   handsome 


^5^  J^^phet,  in  Search  of  a  Father 

young  friend  ?  De  young  gentlemen  always  vant  money  ; 
and  it  is  de  youth  which  is  de  time  for  de  pleasure  and 
enjoyment." 

"  He  wants  a  thousand  pounds,  Emmanuel." 

"  Dat  is  a  large  sum — one  tousand  pounds  !  he  does  not 
vant  any  more  ?  " 

"No,"  replied  I,  "that  will  be  sufficient." 

"  Vel,  den,  I  have  de  monish  in  my  pocket.  I  will  just 
beg  de  young  gentleman  to  sign  a  little  memorandum,  dat 
I  may  von  day  receive  my  monish." 

"  But  what  is  that  to  be  ? "  interrupted  I. 

"  It  will  be  to  promise  to  pay  me  my  monish  and  only 
fifteen  per  shent,  when  you  come  into  your  own." 

"That  will  not  do,"  replied  I;  "I  have  pledged  my 
solemn  word  of  honour,  that  I  will  not  borrow  money  on 
interest." 

"  And  you  have  given  de  pledge,  but  you  did  not  swear 
upon  de  book  ? " 

"No,  but  my  word  has  been  given,  and  that  is  enough; 
if  I  would  forfeit  my  v/ord  with  those  to  whom  I  have 
given  it,  I  would  also  forfeit  my  word  with  you.  My 
keeping  my  promise,  ought  to  be  a  pledge  to  you  that  I 
will  keep  my  promise  to  you." 

"  Dat  is  veil  said — very  veil  said ;  but  den  we  must 
manage  some  oder  way.  Suppose — let  me  shee — how  old 
are  you,  my  young  sir  ? " 

"Past  twenty." 

"  Auh,  dat  is  a  very  pleasant  age,  dat  twenty.  Veil, 
den,  you  shall  shign  a  leetle  bit  of  paper,  that  you 
pay  me  ^2000  ven  you  come  into  your  properties,  on 
condition  dat  I  pay  now  one  tousand.  Dat  is  very  fair — 
ish  it  not,  Mr  Major  ? " 

"  Rather  too  hard,  Emmanuel." 

"  But  de  rishque — de  rishque,  Mr  Major." 

"  I  will  not  agree  to  those  terms,"  replied  I ;  "  you  must 
take  your  money  away,  Mr  Emmanuel." 

"  Veil,  den — vat  vill  you  pay  me  ? " 

"I  will  sign  an  agreement  to  pay  you  >^l5oo  for  the 


Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father  159 

thousand,  if  you  please ;  if  that  will  not  suit  you,  I  will 
try  elsewhere." 

*'  Dat  is  very  bad  bargain.     How  old,  you  shay  ?  " 

"  Twenty." 

**  Veil,  I  shuppose  I  must  oblige  you,  and  my  very  goot 
friend,  de  Major." 

Mr  Emmanuel  drew  out  his  spectacles,  pen,  and  ink- 
horn,  filled  up  a  bond,  and  handed  it  to  me  to  sign.  I 
read  it  carefully  over,  and  signed  it ;  he  then  paid  down 
the  money,  and  took  his  leave. 

It  may  appear  strange  to  the  reader  that  the  money  was 
obtained  so  easily,  but  he  must  remember  that  the  Major 
was  considered  a  person  who  universally  attached  himself 
to  young  men  of  large  fortune  -,  he  had  already  been  the 
means  of  throwing  many  profitable  speculations  into  the 
hands  of  Emmanuel,  and  the  latter  put  implicit  confidence 
in  him.  The  money-lenders  also  are  always  on  the  look 
out  for  young  men  with  large  fortunes,  and  have  their 
names  registered.  Emmanuel  had  long  expected  me  to 
come  to  him,  and  although  it  was  his  intention  to  have  ex- 
amined more  particularly,  and  not  to  have  had  the  money 
prepared,  yet  my  refusal  to  sign  the  bond,  bearing  interest, 
and  my  disputing  the  terms  of  the  second  proposal, 
blinded  him  completely,  and  put  him  off  his  usual  guard. 

"  Upon  my  word,  Newland,  you  obtained  better  terms 
than  I  could  have  expected  from  the  old  Hunks." 

"  Much  better  than  I  expected  also,  Major,"  replied  I ; 
"but  now,  how  much  of  the  money  would  you  like  to 
have?" 

"  My  dear  fellow,  this  is  very  handsome  of  you  ;  but,  I 
thank  Heaven,  I  shall  be  soon  able  to  repay  it :  but  what 
pleases  me,  Newland,  is  your  perfect  confidence  in  one 
whom  the  rest  of  the  world  would  not  trust  with  a  shilling. 
I  will  accept  your  offer  as  freely  as  it  is  made,  and  take 
^500,  just  to  make  a  show  for  the  few  weeks  that  I  am  in 
suspense,  and  then  you  will  find,  that  with  all  my  faults,  I 
am  not  deficient  in  gratitude."  I  divided  the  money  with 
the  Major,  and  he  shortly  afterwards  went  out. 


i6o  Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father 

"Well,  sir,"  said  Timothy,  entering,  full  of  curiosity, 

"  what  have  you  done  ?  " 

"I  have  borrowed  a  thousand  to  pay  fifteen  hundred 

when  I  come  into  my  property." 

"  You  are  safe  then.     Excellent,  and  the  Jew  will  be 

bit." 

"  No,  Timothy,  I  intend  to  repay  it  as  soon  as  I  can." 

**  I  should  like  to  know  when  that  will  be." 

"So  should  I,  Tim,  for  it  must  depend  upon  my  finding 

out  my  parentage."     Heigho,  thought  I,  when  shall  I  ever 

find  out  who  is  my  father  ? 


Chapter   XXX 

The  Major  is  very  fortunate  and  very  unfortunate — He  receives  a  large  sum 
in  gold  and  one  ounce  of  lead. 

I  DRESSED  and  went  out,  met  Harcourt,  dined  with  him, 
and  on  my  return  the  Major  had  not  come  home.  It 
was  then  past  midnight,  and  feeling  little  inclination  to 
sleep,  I  remained  in  the  drawing-room,  waiting  for  his 
arrival.  About  three  o'clock  he  came  in,  flushed  in  the 
face,  and  apparently  in  high  good  humour. 

"  Newland,"  said  he,  throwing  his  pocket-book  on  the 
table,  "just  open  that,  and  then  you  will  open  your  eyes." 

I  obeyed  him,  and  to  my  surprise  took  out  a  bundle  of 
bank-notes ;  I  counted  up  their  value,  and  they  amounted 
to  £s5oo. 

"  You  have  been  fortunate,  indeed." 

"  Yes,"  replied  the  Major ;  "  knowing  that  in  a  short 
time  I  shall  be  certain  of  cash,  one  way  or  the  other,  I  had 
resolved  to  try  my  luck  with  the  ;^5oo.  I  went  to  the 
hazard  table,  and  threw  in  seventeen  times — hedged  upon 
the  deuce  ace,  and  threw  out  with  it — voi/a.  They  won't 
catch  me  there  again  in  a  hurry — luck  like  that  only  comes 
once  in  a  man's  life ;  but,  Japhet,  there  is  a  little  drawback 
to  all  this.  I  shall  require  your  kind  attendance  in  two 
or  three  hours." 


Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father  i6i 

"  Why,  what's  the  matter  ? " 

**  Merely  an  affair  of  honour.  I  was  insulted  by  a  vaga- 
bond, and  we  meet  at  six  o'clock." 

"  A  vagabond — but  surely,  Carbonnell,  you  will  not 
condescend " 

"  My  dear  fellow,  although  as  great  a  vagabond  as  there 
is  on  the  face  of  the  earth,  yet  he  is  a  peer  of  the  realm,  and 
his  title  warrants  the  meeting — but,  after  all,  what  is  it  ?  " 

"I  trust  it  will  be  nothing,  Carbonnell,  but  still  it  may 
prove  otherwise." 

"  Granted ;  and  what  then,  my  dear  Newland  ?  we  all 
owe  Heaven  a  death,  and  if  I  am  floored,  why  then  I  shall 
no  longer  be  anxious  about  title  or  fortune." 

"  It's  a  bad  way  of  settling  a  dispute,"  replied  I,  gravely. 

"  There  is  no  other,  Newland.  How  would  society  be 
held  in  check  if  it  were  not  for  duelling  ?  We  should  all 
be  a  set  of  bears  living  in  a  bear-garden.  I  presume  you 
have  never  been  out  ? " 

"Never," replied  I,  **and  had  hoped  that  I  never  should 
have." 

"  Then  you  must  have  better  fortune,  or  better  temper 
than  most  others,  if  you  pass  through  life  without  an  affair 
of  this  kind  on  your  hands.  I  mean  as  principal,  not  as 
second.  But,  my  dear  fellow,  I  must  give  you  a  little 
advice,  relative  to  your  behaviour  as  a  second ;  for  I'm 
very  particular  on  these  occasions,  and  like  that  things 
should  be  done  very  correctly.  It  will  never  do,  my  dear 
Newland,  that  you  appear  on  the  ground  with  that 
melancholy  face.  I  do  not  mean  that  you  should  laugh, 
or  even  smile,  that  would  be  equally  out  of  character,  but 
you  should  show  yourself  perfectly  calm  and  indifferent. 
In  your  behaviour  towards  the  other  second,  you  must  be 
most  scrupulously  polite,  but,  at  the  same  time,  never  give 
up  a  point  of  dispute,  in  which  my  interest  may  be  con- 
cerned. Even  in  your  walk  be  slow,  and  move,  as  much 
as  the  ground  will  allow  you,  as  if  you  were  in  a  drawing- 
room.  Never  remain  silent ;  offer  even  trivial  remarks, 
rather  than  appear  distrait.     There  is  one  point  of  great 

F  L 


1 62  Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father 

importance — I  refer  to  choosing  the  ground,  in  which, 
perhaps,  you  will  require  my  unperceived  assistance.  Any 
decided  line  behind  me  would  be  very  advantageous  to  my 
adversary,  such  as  the  trunk  of  a  tree,  post,  &c. ;  even  an 
elevated  light  or  dark  ground  behind  me  is  unadvisable. 
Choose,  if  you  can,  a  broken  light,  as  it  affects  the  correct- 
ness of  the  aim ;  but  as  you  will  not  probably  be  able  to 
manage  this  satisfactorily,  I  will  assist  you.  When  on  the 
ground,  after  having  divided  the  sun  fairly  between  us,  I 
will  walk  about  unconcernedly,  and  when  I  perceive  a 
judicious  spot,  I  will  take  a  pinch  of  snufF  and  use  my 
handkerchief,  turning  at  the  same  time  in  the  direction  in 
which  I  wish  my  adversary  to  be  placed.  Take  your  cue 
from  that,  and  with  all  suavity  of  manner,  insist  as  much  as 
you  can  upon  our  being  so  placed.  That  must  be  left  to 
your  own  persuasive  powers.  I  believe  I  have  now  stated 
all  that  is  necessary,  and  I  must  prepare  my  instruments." 

The  major  then  went  into  his  own  room,  and  I  never 
felt  more  nervous  or  more  unhinged  than  after  this  con- 
versation. I  had  a  melancholy  foreboding — but  that  I 
believe  every  one  has,  when  he,  for  the  first  time,  has  to 
assist  at  a  mortal  rencontre.  I  was  in  a  deep  musing  when 
he  returned  with  his  pistols  and  all  the  necessary  apparatus ; 
and  when  the  Major  pointed  out  to  me,  and  made  me  once 
or  twice  practice  the  setting  of  the  hair  triggers,  which  is 
the  duty  of  the  second,  an  involuntary  shudder  came  over 
me. 

"  Why,  Newland,  what  is  the  matter  with  you  ?  I 
thought  that  you  had  more  nerve." 

**  I  probably  should  show  more,  Carbonnell,  were  I  the 
principal  instead  of  the  second,  but  I  cannot  bear  the  re- 
flection that  some  accident  should  happen  to  you.  You 
are  the  only  one  with  whom  I  have  been  on  terms  of 
friendship,  and  the  idea  of  losing  you,  is  very,  very 
painful." 

"  Newland,  you  really  quite  unman  me,  and  you  may 
now  see  a  miracle,"  continued  Carbonnell,  as  he  pressed  his 
hand  to  his  eye,  **  the  moisture  of  a  tear  on  the  cheek  of  a 


Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father  163 

London  roue,  a  man  of  the  world,  who  has  long  lived  for 
himself  and  for  this  world  only.  It  never  would  be 
credited  if  asserted.  Newland,  there  was  a  time  when  I 
was  like  yourself — the  world  took  advantage  of  my  ingenu- 
ousness and  inexperience ;  my  good  feelings  were  the  cause 
of  my  ruin,  and  then,  by  degrees,  I  became  as  callous  and 
as  hardened  as  the  world  itself.  My  dear  fellow,  I  thought 
all  affection,  all  sentiment,  dried  up  within  me,  but  it  is 
not  the  case.  You  have  made  me  feel  that  I  have  still  a 
heart,  and  that  I  can  love  you.  But  this  is  all  romance,  and 
not  fitted  fo.  the  present  time.  It  is  now  five  o'clock,  let 
us  be  on  the  ground  early — it  will  give  us  an  advantage." 

"I  do  not  much  like  speaking  to  you  on  the  subject, 
Carbonnell;  but  is  there  nothing  that  you  might  wish 
done  in  case  of  accident } " 

"  Nothing — why  yes.  I  may  as  well.  Give  me  a  sheet  of 
paper."  The  Major  sat  down  and  wrote  for  a  few  minutes. 
"Now,  send  Timothy  and  another  here.  Timothy,  and 
you,  sir,  see  me  sign  this  paper,  and  put  my  seal  to  it. 
I  deliver  this  as  my  act  and  deed.  Put  your  names  as 
witnesses."  They  complied  with  his  request,  and  then 
the  Major  desired  Timothy  to  call  a  hackney-coach. 
"  Newland,"  said  the  Major,  putting  the  paper,  folded  up, 
in  my  pocket,  along  with  the  bank  notes,  "  take  care  of 
this  for  me  till  we  come  back." 

**The  coach  is  at  the  door,  sir,"  said  Timothy,  looking 
at  me,  as  if  to  say,  "  What  can  all  this  be  about  ? " 

"  You  may  come  with  us  and  see,"  said  the  Major, 
observing  Tim's  countenance,  "  and  put  that  case  into  the 
coach."  Tim,  who  knew  that  it  was  the  Major's  case  of 
pistols,  appeared  still  more  alarmed,  and  stood  still  without 
obeying  the  order.  "Never  mind,  Tim,  your  master  is 
not  the  one  who  is  to  use  them,"  said  the  Major,  patting 
him  on  the  shoulder. 

Timothy,  relieved  by  this  intelligence,  went  down  stairs 
with  the  pistols  ;  we  followed  him.  Tim  mounted  on  the 
box,  and  we  drove  to  Chalk  Farm.  "  Shall  the  coach 
wait  ? "  inquired  Timothy. 


1 64  Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father 

"  Yes,  by  all  means,"  replied  I,  in  a  low  voice.  We 
arrived  at  the  usual  ground,  where  disputes  of  this  kind 
were  generally  settled ;  and  the  Major  took  a  survey  of  it 
with  great  composure. 

"Now  observe,  Japhet,"  said  he,  "if  you  can  con- 
trive   ;  but  here  they  are.     I  will  give  you  the  notice 

agreed  upon."  The  peer,  whose  title  was  Lord  Tineholme, 
now  came  up  with  his  second,  whom  he  introduced  to  me 
as  Mr  Osborn.  "  Mr  Newland,"  replied  the  Major, 
saluting  Mr  Osborn  in  return.  We  both  took  off  our  hats, 
bowed,  and  then  proceeded  to  our  duty.  I  must  do  my 
adversary's  second  the  justice  to  say,  that  his  politeness 
was  fully  equal  to  mine.  There  was  no  mention,  on  either 
side,  of  explanations  and  retractions — the  insult  was  too 
gross,  and  the  character  of  his  lordship,  as  well  as  that  of 
Major  Carbonnell,  was  too  well  known.  Twelve  paces 
were  proposed  by  Mr  Osborn,  and  agreed  to  by  me — the 
pistols  of  Major  Carbonnell  were  gained  by  drawing  lots 
— we  had  nothing  more  to  do  but  to  place  our  principals. 
The  Major  took  out  his  snuff-box,  took  a  pinch,  and  blew 
his  nose,  turning  towards  a  copse  of  beech  trees. 

"  With  your  permission,  I  will  mark  out  the  ground,  Mr 
Osborn,"  said  I,  walking  up  to  the  Major,  and  intending  to 
pace  twelve  paces  in  the  direction  towards  which  he  faced. 
"  Allow  me  to  observe  that  I  think  a  little  more  in  this 
direction,  would  be  more  fair  for  both  parties,"  said  Mr 
Osborn. 

"  It  would  so,  my  dear  sir,"  replied  I,  "  but,  submitting 
to  your  superior  judgment,  perhaps  it  may  not  have  struck 
you  that  my  principal  will  have  rather  too  much  of  the 
sun.  I  am  incapable  of  taking  any  advantage,  but  I  should 
not  do  my  duty  if  I  did  not  see  every  justice  done  to  the 
Major,  who  has  confided  to  me  in  this  unpleasant  affair. 
I  put  it  to  you,  sir,  as  a  gentleman  and  man  of  honour, 
whether  I  am  claiming  too  much?"  A  little  amicable 
altercation  took  place  on  this  point,  but  finding  that  I 
would  not  yield,  and  that  at  every  reply  I  was  more  and 
more  polite  and  bland  in  my  deportment,  Mr  Osborn  gave 


Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father  165 

up  the  point.  I  walked  the  twelve  paces,  and  Mr  Osborn 
placed  his  principal.  I  observed  that  Lord  Tineholme  did 
not  appear  pleased  ;  he  expostulated  with  him,  but  it  was 
then  too  late.  The  pistols  had  been  already  loaded — the 
choice  was  given  to  his  lordship,  and  Major  Carbonnell 
received  the  other  from  my  hand,  which  actually  trembled, 
while  his  was  firm.  I  requested  Mr  Osborn  to  drop  the 
handkerchief,  as  I  could  not  make  up  my  mind  to  give  a 
signal  which  might  be  fatal  to  the  Major.  They  fired — 
Lord  Tineholme  fell  immediately — the  Major  remained  on 
his  feet  for  a  second  or  two,  and  then  sank  down  on  the 
ground.     I  hastened  up  to  him.     "Where  are  you  hurt  ? " 

The  Major  put  his  hand  to  his  hip — "  I  am  hit  hard, 
Newland,  but  not  so  hard  as  he  is.     Run  and  see." 

I  left  the  Major,  and  went  up  to  where  Lord  Tineholme 
lay,  his  head  raised  on  the  knee  of  his  second. 

"It  is  all  over  with  him,  Mr  Newland,  the  ball  has 
passed  through  his  brain." 


XXXI 

The  Major  pays  the  only  debt  of  consequence  he  ever  did  pay.  and  I  find 
myself  a  man  of  property. 

I  HASTENED  back  to  the  Major,  to  examine  his  wound,  and, 
with  the  assistance  of  Timothy,  I  stripped  him  sufficiently 
to  ascertain  that  the  ball  had  entered  his  hip,  and  probing 
the  wound  with  my  finger,  it  appeared  that  it  had  glanced 
off  in  the  direction  of  the  intestines  ;  the  suffusion  of  blood 
was  very  trifling,  which  alarmed  me  still  more. 
"  Could  you  bear  removal,  Major,  in  the  coach  ?  " 
"  I  cannot  tell,  but  we  must  try ;  the  sooner  I  am  home 
the  better,  Japhet,"  replied  he  faintly. 

With  the  assistance  of  Timothy,  I  put  him  into  the 
hackney-coach,  and  we  drove  off,  after  I  had  taken  off  my 
hat  and  made  my  obeisance  to  Mr  Osborn,  an  effort  of 
politeness  which  I  certainly  should  have  neglected,  had  I 


1 66  Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father 

not  been  reminded  of  it  by  my  principal.  We  set  off,  and 
the  Major  bore  his  journey  very  well,  making  no  complaint, 
but,  on  our  arrival  he  fainted  as  we  lifted  him  out.  As 
soon  as  he  was  on  the  bed,  I  despatched  Timothy  for  a 
surgeon.  On  his  arrival  he  examined  the  wound,  and 
shook  his  head.  Taking  me  into  the  next  room,  he 
declared  his  opinion,  that  the  ball  had  passed  into  the 
intestines,  which  were  severed,  and  that  there  was  no 
hope.  I  sat  down  and  covered  up  my  face — the  tears 
rolled  down  and  trickled  through  my  fingers — it  was  the 
first  heavy  blow  I  had  yet  received.  Without  kindred  or 
connections,  I  felt  that  I  was  about  to  lose  one  who  was 
dear  to  me.  To  another,  not  in  my  situation,  it  might 
have  only  produced  a  temporary  grief  at  the  near  loss  of  a 
friend ;  but  to  me,  who  was  almost  alone  in  the  world,  the 
loss  was  heavy  in  the  extreme.  Whom  had  I  to  fly  to  for 
solace  ? — there  were  Timothy  and  Fleta — one  who  per- 
formed the  duty  of  a  servant  to  me,  and  a  child.  I  felt 
that  they  were  not  sufficient,  and  my  heart  was  chilled. 

The  surgeon  had,  in  the  meantime,  returned  to  the 
Major,  and  dressed  the  wound.  The  Major,  who  had 
recovered  from  his  weakness,  asked  him  his  candid 
opinion.  "We  must  hope  for  the  best,  sir,"  replied  the 
surgeon. 

"That  is  to  say,  there  is  no  hope,"  replied  the  Major ; 
**  and  I  feel  that  you  are  right.  How  long  do  you  think 
that  I  may  live  ?  " 

"  If  the  wound  does  not  take  a  favourable  turn,  about 
forty-eight  hours,  sir,"  replied  the  surgeon ;  "  but  we 
must  hope  for  a  more  fortunate  issue." 

"  In  a  death-bed  case  you  medical  men  are  like  lawyers," 
replied  the  Major,  "  there  is  no  getting  a  straightforward 
answer  from  you.     Where  is  Mr  Newland  ?  " 

"  Here  I  am,  Carbonnell,"  said  I,  taking  his  hand. 

"  My  dear  fellow,  I  know  it  is  all  over  with  me,  and 
you,  of  course,  know  it  as  well  as  I  do.  Do  not  think 
that  it  is  a  source  of  much  regret  to  me  to  leave  this 
rascally  world — indeed  it  is  not ;  but  I  do  feel  sorry,  very 


Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father  167 

sorry,  to  leave  you.  The  doctor  tells  me  I  shall  live 
forty-eight  hours  ;  but  I  have  an  idea  that  I  shall  not  live 
so  many  minutes.  I  feel  my  strength  gradually  failing  me. 
Depend  upon  it,  my  dear  Newland,  there  is  an  internal 
hemorrhage.  My  dear  fellow,  I  shall  not  be  able  to  speak 
soon.  I  have  left  you  my  executor  and  sole  heir.  I  wish 
there  was  more  for  you — it  will  last  you,  however,  till 
you  come  of  age.  That  was  a  lucky  hit  last  night, 
but  a  very  unlucky  one  this  morning.  Bury  me  like  a 
gentleman." 

"  My  dear  Carbonnell,"  said  I,  "  would  you  not  like  to 
see  somebody — a  clergyman  ?  " 

**  Newland,  excuse  me.  I  do  not  refuse  it  out  of  dis- 
respect, or  because  I  do  not  believe  in  the  tenets  of 
Christianity,  but  I  cannot  believe  that  my  repentance  at 
this  late  hour  can  be  of  any  avail.  If  I  have  not  been 
sorry  for  the  life  I  have  lived — if  I  have  not  had  my 
moments  of  remorse — if  I  have  not  promised  to  amende 
and  intended  to  have  so  done,  and  I  trust  I  have — what 
avails  my  repentance  now  ?  No,  no,  Japhet,  as  I  have 
sown  so  must  I  reap,  and  trust  to  the  mercy  of  Heaven. 
God  only  knows  all  our  hearts,  and  I  would  fain  believe 
that  I  may  find  more  favour  in  the  eyes  of  the  Almighty, 

than  I  have  in  this  world  from  those  who but  we  must 

not  judge.  Give  me  to  drink,  Japhet — I  am  sinking  fast. 
God  bless  you,  my  dear  fellow." 

The  Major  sank  on  his  pillow,  after  he  had  moistened 
his  lips,  and  spoke  no  more.  "With  his  hand  clasped  in 
mine  he  gradually  sank,  and  in  a  quarter  of  an  hour  his 
eyes  were  fixed,  and  all  was  over.  He  was  right  in  his 
conjectures — an  artery  had  been  divided,  and  he  had  bled 
to  death.  The  surgeon  came  again  just  before  he  was 
dead,  for  I  had  sent  for  him.  "It  is  better  as  it  is,"  said 
he  to  me.  "Had  he  not  bled  to  death,  he  would  have 
suffered  forty-eight  hours  of  extreme  agony  from  the 
mortification  which  must  have  ensued.  He  closed  the 
Major's  eyes  and  took  his  leave,  and  I  hastened  into  the 
drawing-room  and  sent  for  Timothy,  with  whom  I  sate  in 


1 68  Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father 

a  long  conversation  on  this  unfortunate  occurrence,  and  my 
future  prospects. 

My  grief  for  the  death  of  the  Major  was  sincere ;  much 
may  indeed  be  ascribed  to  habit,  from  our  long  residence 
and  companionship ;  but  more  to  the  knowledge  that  the 
Major,  with  all  his  faults,  had  redeeming  qualities,  and 
that  the  world  had  driven  him  to  become  what  he  had 
been.  I  had  the  further  conviction,  that  he  was  attached 
to  me,  and,  in  my  situation,  anything  like  affection  was 
most  precious.  His  funeral  was  handsome,  without  being 
ostentatious,  and  I  paid  every  demand  upon  him  which  I 
knew  to  be  just— many,  indeed,  that  were  not  sent  in, 
from  a  supposition  that  any  claim  made  would  be  useless. 
His  debts  were  not  much  above  ;^200,  and  these  debtf 
had  never  been  expected  to  be  liquidated  by  those  whc 
had  given  him  credit.  The  paper  he  had  written,  and  had 
been  witnessed  by  Timothy  and  another,  was  a  short  will, 
in  which  he  left  me  his  sole  heir  and  executor.  The  whole 
of  his  property  consisted  of  his  house  in  St  James's  Street, 
the  contents  of  his  pocket-book  entrusted  to  my  care,  and 
his  personal  effects,  which,  especially  in  bijouterie,  were 
valuable.  The  house  was  worth  about  ^4000,  as  he  had 
told  me.  In  his  pocket-book  were  notes  to  the  amount  of 
^3500,  and  his  other  effects  might  be  valued  at  ;^4oo. 
With  all  his  debts  and  funeral  expenses  liquidated,  and 
with  my  own  money,  I  found  myself  in  possession  of  about 
jTSooo,— a  sum  which  never  could  have  been  credited,  for 
it  was  generally  supposed  that  he  died  worth  less  than 
nothing,  having  lived  for  a  long  while  upon  a  capital  of 
a  similar  value. 

**  I  cannot  but  say,"  observed  Timothy,  "  but  that  this 
is  very  fortunate.  Had  the  Major  not  persuaded  you  to 
borrow  money,  he  never  would  have  won  so  large  a  sum. 
Had  he  lived  he  would  have  squandered  it  away  ;  but  just 
in  the  nick  of  time  he  is  killed,  and  makes  you  his  heir." 

"  There  is  truth  in  your  observation,  Timothy  ;  but  now 
you  must  go  to  Mr  Emmanuel,  that  I  may  pay  him  off. 
I  will  repay  the  ;riooo  lent  me  by  Lord  Windermear  into 


Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father  169 

his  banker's,  and  then  I  must  execute  one  part  of  the  poor 
Major's  will.  He  left  his  diamond  solitaire  as  a  memento 
to  his  lordship.  Bring  it  to  me,  and  I  will  call  and  present 
it. 

Chapter    XXXII 

A  chapter  full  of  morality,  which  ends  in  a  Jew  refusing  upwards  of  ;^iooo, 
proving  the  Millenium  to  be  nearly  at  hand. 

This  conversation  took  place  the  day  after  the  funeral,  and, 
attired  in  deep  mourning,  I  called  upon  his  lordship,  and 
was  admitted.  His  lordship  had  sent  his  carriage  to 
attend  the  funeral,  and  was  also  in  mourning  when  he 
received  me.  I  executed  my  commission,  and  after  a  long 
conversation  with  his  lordship,  in  which  I  confided  to  him 
the  contents  of  the  will,  and  the  amount  of  property  of  the 
deceased,  I  rose  to  take  my  leave. 

"  Excuse  me,  Mr  Newland,"  said  he,  "  but  what  do  you 
now  propose  to  do  ?  I  confess  I  feel  a  strong  interest  about 
you,  and  had  wished  that  you  had  come  to  me  oftener 
without  an  invitation.  I  perceive  that  you  never  will. 
Have  you  no  intention  of  following  up  any  pursuit  ? " 

"  Yes,  my  lord,  I  intend  to  search  after  my  father  ;  and 
I  trust  that,  by  husbanding  my  unexpected  resources,  I 
shall  now  be  able." 

"  You  have  the  credit,  in  the  fashionable  world,  of 
possessing  a  large  fortune." 

**  That  is  not  my  fault,  my  lord  :  it  is  through  Major 
Carbonnell's  mistake  that  the  world  is  deceived.  Still  I 
must  acknowledge  myself  so  far  participator,  that  I  have 
never  contradicted  the  report." 

"  Meaning,  I  presume,  by  some  good  match,  to  reap  the 
advantage  of  the  supposition." 

**  Not  so,  my  lord,  I  assure  you.  People  may  deceive 
themselves,  but  I  will  not  deceive  them." 

"  Nor  undeceive  them,  Mr  Newland  ? " 

**  Undeceive  them  I  will  not  j  nay,  if  I  did  make  the 


lyo  Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father 

attempt,  I  should  not  be  believed.  They  never  would 
believe  it  possible  that  I  could  have  lived  so  long  with  your 
relative,  without  having  had  a  large  supply  of  money. 
They  might  believe  that  I  had  run  through  my  money, 
but  not  that  I  never  had  any." 

"  There  is  a  knowledge  of  the  world  in  that  remark," 
replied  his  lordship  ;  "  but  I  interrupted  you,  so  proceed." 

"  I  mean  to  observe,  my  lord,  and  you,  by  your  know- 
ledge of  my  previous  history,  can  best  judge  how  far  I  am 
warranted  in  saying  so  ;  that  I  have  as  yet  steered  the 
middle  course  between  that  which  is  dishonest  and  honest* 
If  the  world  deceives  itself,  you  would  say  that,  in  strict 
honesty,  I  ought  to  undeceive  it.  So  I  would,  my  lord, 
if  it  were  not  for  my  peculiar  situation  ;  but  at  the  same 
time  I  never  will,  if  possible,  be  guilty  of  direct  deceit ; 
that  is  to  say,  I  would  not  take  advantage  of  my  supposed 
wealth,  to  marry  a  young  person  of  large  fortune.  I 
would  state  myself  a  beggar,  and  gain  her  affections  as  a 
beggar.  A  woman  can  have  little  confidence  in  a  man  who 
deceives  her  before  marriage." 

'*  Your  secret  will  always  be  safe  with  me,  Mr  Newland  \ 
you  have  a  right  to  demand  it.  I  am  glad  to  hear  the 
sentiments  which  you  have  expressed ;  they  are  not 
founded,  perhaps,  upon  the  strictest  code  of  morality  ;  but 
there  are  many  who  profess  more  who  do  not  act  up  to  so 
much.  Still,  I  wish  you  would  think  in  what  way  I  may 
be  able  to  serve  you,  for  your  life  at  present  is  useless  and 
unprofitable,  and  may  tend  to  warp  still  more,  ideas  which 
are  not  quite  so  strict  as  they  ought  to  be." 

"  My  lord,  I  have  but  one  object  in  allowing  the  world 
to  continue  in  their  error  relative  to  my  means,  which  is, 
that  it  procures  for  me  an  entrance  into  that  society  in 
which  I  have  a  moral  conviction  that  I  shall  find  my  father. 
I  have  but  one  pursuit,  one  end  to  attain,  which  is,  to 
succeed  in  that  search.  I  return  you  a  thousand  thanks 
for  your  kind  expressions  and  good-will ;  but  I  cannot,  at 
present,  avail  myself  of  them.  I  beg  your  lordship's 
pardon,  but  did  you  ever  meet  the  lady  with  the  ear-rings  ?  " 


Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father  171 

Lord  Windermear  smiled.  "  Really,  Mr  Newland,  you 
are  a  very  strange  person  ;  not  content  with  finding  out 
your  own  parents,  you  must  also  be  searching  after  other 
people's ;  not  that  I  do  not  commend  your  conduct  in  this 
instance ;  but  I'm  afraid,  in  running  after  shadows,  you  are 
too  indifferent  to  the  substance." 

**  Ah,  my  lord  !  it  is  very  well  for  you  to  argue  who 
have  had  a  father  and  mother,  and  never  felt  the  want  of 
them ;  but  if  you  knew  how  my  heart  yearns  after  my 
parents,  you  would  not  be  surprised  at  my  persever- 
ance." 

"  I  am  surprised  at  nothing  in  this  world,  Mr  Newland  ; 
every  one  pursues  happiness  in  his  own  way  ;  your  happi- 
ness appears  to  be  centred  in  one  feeling,  and  you  are  only 
acting  as  the  world  does  in  general ;  but  recollect  that  the 
search  after  happiness  ends  in  disappointment." 

"  I  grant  it  but  too  often  does,  my  lord  ;  but  there  is 
pleasure  in  the  chase,"  replied  I. 

"  Well,  go,  and  may  you  prosper.  All  I  can  say  is  this, 
Mr  Newland,  do  not  have  that  false  pride  not  to  apply  to 
me  when  you  need  assistance.  Recollect,  it  is  much 
better  to  be  under  an  obligation,  if  such  you  will  consider 
it,  than  to  do  that  which  is  wrong  ;  and  that  it  is  a  very  false 
pride  which  would  blush  to  accept  a  favour,  and  yet  not 
blush  to  do  what  it  ought  to  be  ashamed  of.  Promise  me, 
Mr  Newland,  that  upon  any  reverse  or  exigence,  you  will 
apply  to  me." 

"  I  candidly  acknowledge  to  your  lordship,  that  I  would 
rather  be  under  an  obligation  to  anyone  but  you  ;  and  I 
trust  you  will  clearly  appreciate  my  feelings.  I  have  taken 
the  liberty  of  refunding  the  one  thousand  pounds  you 
were  so  kind  as  to  place  at  my  disposal  as  a  loan.  At  the 
same  time  I  will  promise,  that,  if  at  any  time  I  should 
require  your  assistance,  I  will  again  request  leave  to  become 
your  debtor."     I  rose  again  to  depart. 

"  Farewell,  Newland  ;  when  I  thought  you  had  behaved 
ill,  and  I  offered  to  better  you,  you  only  demanded  my 
good  opinion ;  you  have  it,  and  have  it  so  firmly,  that  it 


172  Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father 

will  not  easily  be  shaken."  His  lordship  then  shook  hands 
with  me,  and  I  took  my  leave. 

On  my  return  I  found  Emmanuel,  the  money-lender, 
who  had  accompanied  Timothy,  fancying  that  I  was  in 
want  of  more  assistance,  and  but  too  willing  to  give  it. 
His  surprise  was  very  great  when  I  told  him  that  I  wished 
to  repay  the  money  I  had  borrowed. 

**  Veil,  dis  is  very  strange  !  I  have  lent  my  monish  a 
tousand  times,  and  never  once  they  did  offer  it  me  back. 
Veil,  I  will  take  it,  sar." 

"  But  how  much  must  I  give  you,  Mr  Emmanuel,  for 
the  ten  days'  loan  ? " 

**  How  moch — vy  you  remember,  you  vill  give  de  bond 
money — de  fifteen  hundred." 

"  What !  five  hundred  pounds  interest  for  ten  days, 
Mr  Emmanuel ;  no,  no,  that's  rather  too  bad.  I  will,  if 
you  please,  pay  you  back  eleven  hundred  pounds,  and  that 
I  think  is  very  handsome." 

"I  don't  want  my  monish,  my  good  sar.  I  lend  you 
one  tousand  pounds,  on  de  condition  that  you  pay 
me  fifteen  hundred  when  you  come  into  your  properties, 
which  will  be  in  very  short  time.  You  send  for  me,  and 
tell  me  you  vish  to  pay  back  de  monish  directly ;  I  never 
refuse  monish — if  you  wish  to  pay,  I  will  take,  but  I  will 
not  take  von  farding  less  dan  de  monish  on  de  bond." 

"  Very  well,  Mr  Emmanuel,  just  as  you  please  ;  I  offer 
you  your  money  back,  in  presence  of  my  servant,  and  one 
hundred  pounds  for  the  loan  of  it  for  ten  days.  Refuse 
it  if  you  choose,  but  I  earnestly  recommend  you  to  take 
it." 

"  I  will  not  have  de  monish,  sar ;  dis  is  de  child's  play," 
replied  the  Jew.  "  I  must  have  my  fifteen  hundred — all 
in  goot  time,  sar — I  am  in  no  hurry — I  vish  you  a  very 
good  morning,  Mr  Newland.  Ven  you  vish  for  more 
monish  to  borrow,  I  shall  be  happy  to  pay  my  respects." 
So  saying,  the  Jew  walked  out  of  the  room,  with  his  arm 
behind  his  back  as  usual. 


Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father  173 


Chapter  XXXIII 

I  decide  upon  honesty  as  the  best  policy,  and  what  is  more  strange,  receive 
legal  advice  upon  this  important  point. 

Timothy  and  I  burst  into  laughter.  '*  Really,  Timothy," 
observed  I,  "it  appears  that  very  little  art  is  necessary  to 
deceive  the  world,  for  in  every  instance  they  will  deceive 
themselves.  The  Jew  is  off  my  conscience,  at  all  events, 
and  now  he  never  will  be  paid,  until " 

"  Until  when,  Japhet  ? " 

"  Until  I  find  out  my  father,"  replied  I. 

"Everything  is  put  off  till  that  time  arrives,  I  observe," 
said  Timothy.  "  Other  people  will  soon  be  as  interested 
in  the  search  as  yourself." 

"  I  wish  they  were  ;  unfortunately  it  is  a  secret,  which 
cannot  be  divulged." 

A  ring  at  the  bell  called  Timothy  down  stairs  ;  he 
returned  with  a  letter,  it  was  from  Lord  Windermear, 
and  ran  as  follows  : — 

**  My  dear  Newland, — I  have  been  thinking  about 
you  ever  since  you  left  me  this  morning,  and  as  you 
appear  resolved  to  prosecute  your  search,  it  has  occurred 
to  me  that  you  should  go  about  it  in  a  more  systematic 
way.  I  do  not  mean  to  say  that  what  I  now  propose 
will  prove  of  any  advantage  to  you,  but  still  it  may,  as 
you  will  have  a  very  old,  and  very  clever  head  to  advise 
with.  I  refer  to  Mr  Masterton,  my  legal  adviser,  from 
whom  you  had  the  papers  which  led  to  our  first  acquaint- 
ance. He  is  aware  that  you  were  (I  beg  your  pardon) 
an  impostor,  as  he  has  since  seen  Mr  Estcourt.  The 
letter  enclosed  is  for  him,  and  with  that  in  your  hand  you 
may  face  him  boldly,  and  I  have  no  doubt  but  that  he 
will  assist  you  all  in  his  power,  and  put  you  to  no  expense. 
Narrate  your  whole  history  to  him,  and  then  you  will  heai 
what  he  may  propose.     He  has  many  secrets,  much  more 


A  74  J^-phet,  in  Search  of  a  Father 

important  than  yours.     Wishing  you  every  success   that 
your  perseverance  deserves, 

"  Believe  me, 

"  Yours  very  truly, 

"  WiNDERMEAR." 

"  I  believe  the  advice  to  be  good,"  said  I,  after  reading 
the  letter.  "  I  am  myself  at  fault,  and  hardly  know  how 
to  proceed.  I  think  I  will  go  at  once  to  the  old  gentle- 
man, Timothy." 

"  It  can  do  no  harm,  if  it  does  no  good.  Two  heads 
are  better  than  one,"  replied  Timothy.  "Some  secrets 
are  too  well  kept,  and  deserting  a  child  is  one  of  those 
which  is  confided  but  to  few." 

"  By-the-bye,  Timothy,  here  have  I  been,  more  than 
so  many  years  out  of  the  Foundling  Hospital,  and  have 
never  yet  inquired  if  any  one  has  ever  been  to  reclaim 
me." 

"Very  true;  and  I  think  I'll  step  myself  to  the  work- 
house, at  St  Bridget's,  and  ask  whether  any  one  has  asked 
about  me,"  replied  Timothy,  with  a  grin. 

**  There  is  another  thing  that  I  have  neglected,"  observed 
I,  "  which  is,  to  inquire  at  the  address  in  Coleman  Street, 
if  there  is  any  letter  from  Melchior." 

"I  have  often  thought  of  him,"  replied  Timothy.  "I 
wonder  who  he  can  be — there  is  another  mystery  there. 
I  wonder  whether  we  shall  ever  fall  in  with  him  again — 
and  Nattee,  too  ? " 

"There's  no  saying,  Timothy.  I  wonder  where  that 
poor  fool,  Philotas,  and  our  friend  Jumbo,  are  now  ?  " 

The  remembrance  of  the  two  last  personages  made  us 
both  burst  out  a  laughing. 

"Timothy,  I've  been  reflecting  that  my  intimacy  with 
poor  Carbonnell  has  rather  hindered  than  assisted  me  in 
my  search.  He  found  me  with  a  good  appearance,  and  he 
has  moulded  me  into  a  gentleman,  so  far  as  manners  and 
appearance  are  concerned ;  but  the  constant  vortex  in 
which  I  have  been  whirled  in  his  company,  has  prevented 


Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father  175 

me  from  doing  anything.  His  melancholy  death  has 
perhaps  been  fortunate  for  me.  It  has  left  me  more 
independent  in  circumstances,  and  more  free.  I  must  now 
really  set  to  in  earnest." 

"I  beg  your  pardon,  Japhet,  but  did  not  you  say  the 
same  when  we  first  set  off  on  our  travels,  and  yet  remain 
more  than  a  year  with  the  gipsies  ?  Did  not  you  make  the 
same  resolution  when  we  arrived  in  town,  with  our  pockets 
full  of  money,  and  yet,  once  into  fashionable  society,  think 
but  little,  and  occasionally,  of  it  ?  Now  you  make  the 
same  resolution,  and  how  long  will  you  keep  it  ?  " 

"  Nay,  Timothy,  that  remark  is  hardly  fair ;  you  know 
that  the  subject  is  ever  in  my  thoughts." 

"  In  your  thoughts,  I  grant,  very  frequently ;  but  you 
have  still  been  led  away  from  the  search." 

"  I  grant  it,  but  I  presume  that  arises  from  not  knowing 
how  to  proceed.  I  have  a  skein  to  unravel,  and  cannot 
find  out  an  end  to  commence  with." 

"  I  always  thought  people  commenced  with  the  begin- 
ning," replied  Tim,  laughing. 

**  At  all  events,  I  will  now  try  back,  and  face  the  old 
lawyer.  Do  you  call  at  Coleman  Street,  Tim,  and  at  St 
Bridget's  also,  if  you  please." 

"As  for  St  Bridget's,  I'm  in  no  particular  hurry  about 
my  mother ;  if  I  stumble  upon  her  I  may  pick  her  up,  but 
I  never  make  diligent  search  after  what,  in  every  proba- 
bility, will  not  be  worth  the  finding." 

Leaving  Timothy  to  go  his  way,  I  walked  to  the  house 
at  Lincoln's  Inn,  which  I  had  before  entered  upon  the 
memorable  occasion  of  the  papers  of  Estcourt.  As  before, 
I  rang  the  bell,  the  door  swang  open,  and  I  was  once  more 
in  the  presence  of  Mr  Masterton. 

"  I  have  a  letter,  sir,"  said  I,  bowing,  and  presenting 
the  letter  from  Lord  Windermear. 

The  old  gentleman  peered  at  me  through  his  spectacles. 
"Why!  we  have  met  before — bless  me — why  you're  the 
rogue  that " 

"  You  are  perfectly  right,  sir,"  interrupted  I.     "  I  am 


'7^  J^phet,  in  Search  of  a  Father 

the  rogue  who  presented  the  letter  from  Lord  Windermear, 
and  who  presents  you  with  another  from  the  same  person ; 
do  me  the  favour  to  read  it,  while  I  take  a  chair." 

"  Upon  my  soul — you  impudent — handsome  dog,  I  must 
say — great  pity — come  for  money,  I  suppose.  Well,  it's  a 
sad  world,"  muttered  the  lawyer  as  he  broke  open  the 
letter  of  Lord  Windermear. 

I  made  no  reply,  but  watched  his  countenance,  which 
changed  to  that  of  an  expression  of  surprise.  "  Had  his 
lordship  sent  me  a  request  to  have  you  hanged  if  possible," 
said  Mr  Masterton,  "  I  should  have  felt  no  surprise,  but 
in  this  letter  he  praises  you,  and  desires  me  to  render 
you  all  the  service  in  my  power.     I  can't  understand  it." 

"  No,  sir ;  but  if  you  have  leisure  to  listen  to  me,  you 
will  then  find  that,  in  this  world,  we  may  be  deceived  by 
appearances." 

"Well,  and  so  I  was,  when  I  first  saw  you;  I  never 
could  have  believed  you  to  be — but  never  mind." 

"Perhaps,  sir,  in  an  hour  or  two  you  will  again  alter 
your  opinion.  Are  you  at  leisure,  or  will  you  make  an 
appointment  for  some  future  day  ? " 

"  Mr  Newland,  I  am  not  at  leisure — I  never  was  more 
busy ;  and  if  you  had  come  on  any  legal  business,  I  should 
have  put  you  off  for  three  or  four  days,  at  least ;  but  my 
curiosity  is  so  raised,  that  I  am  determined  that  I  will 
indulge  it  at  the  expense  of  my  interest.  I  will  turn  the 
key,  and  then  you  will  oblige  me  by  unravelling,  what,  at 
present,  is  to  me  as  curious  as  it  is  wholly  incomprehen- 
sible." 


Chapter  XXXIV 

I  attempt  to  profit  by  intelligence  I  receive,  and  throw  a  lady  into  hysterics. 

In  about  three  hours  I  had  narrated  the  history  of  my  life, 
up  to  the  very  day,  almost  as  much  detailed  as  it  has  been 
to  the  reader.      "  And  now,  Mr  Masterton,"  said  I,  as  I 


Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father  177 

wound  up  my  narrative,  **  do  you  think  that  I  deserve  the 
title  of  rogue,  which  you  applied  to  me  when  I  came  in  ? " 

"  Upon  my  word,  Mr  Newland,  I  hardly  know  what  to 
say ;  but  I  like  to  tell  the  truth.  To  say  that  you  have 
been  quite  honest,  would  not  be  correct — a  rogue,  to  a 
certain  degree,  you  have  been,  but  you  have  been  the 
rogue  of  circumstances.  I  can  only  say  this,  that  there 
are  greater  rogues  than  you,  whose  characters  are  un- 
blemished in  the  world — that  most  people  in  your  peculiar 
situation  would  have  been  much  greater  rogues ;  and 
lastly,  that  rogue  or  not  rogue,  I  have  great  pleasure  in 
taking  you  by  the  hand,  and  will  do  all  I  possibly  can  to 
serve  you — and  that  for  your  own  sake.  Your  search 
after  your  parents  I  consider  almost  tantamount  to  a  wild- 
goose  chase ;  but  still,  as  your  happiness  depends  upon  it, 
I  suppose  it  must  be  carried  on ;  but  you  must  allow  me 
time  for  reflection.  I  will  consider  what  may  be  the  most 
judicious  method  of  proceeding.  Can  you  dine  tete-a-tete 
with  me  here  on  Friday,  and  we  then  will  talk  over  the 
matter  ? " 

"  On  Friday,  sir ;  I  am  afraid  that  I  am  engaged  to  Lady 
Maelstrom ;  but  that  is  of  no  consequence — I  will  write  an 
excuse  to  her  ladyship." 

**  Lady  Maelstrom !  how  very  odd  that  you  should 
bring  up  her  name  after  our  conversation." 

"  Why  so,  my  dear  sir  \ " 

"  Why !  "  replied  Mr  Masterton,  chuckling  ;  "  because 
— recollect,  it  is  a  secret,  Mr  Newland — I  remember  some 
twenty  years  ago,  when  she  was  a  girl  of  eighteen,  before 
she  married,  she  had  a  XxXxXQfawx  pas,  and  I  was  called  in 
about  a  settlement,  for  the  maintenance  of  the  child." 

"  Is  it  possible,  sir  ? "  replied  I,  anxiously. 

"  Yes,  she  was  violently  attached  to  a  young  officer, 
without  money,  but  of  good  family ;  some  say  it  was 
a  private  marriage,  others,  that  he  was — a  rascaL  It  was 
all  hushed  up,  but  he  was  obliged  by  the  friends,  before 
he  left  for  the  West  Indies,  to  sign  a  deed  of  maintenance, 
and  I  was  the  party  called  in.     I  never  heard  any  more 

F  M 


178  Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father 

about  it.  The  officer's  name  was  Warrender;  he  died 
of  the  yellow  fever,  I  believe,  and  after  his  death  she 
married  Lord  Maelstrom." 

"  He  is  dead,  then  ? "  replied  I  mournfully. 

"Well,  that  cannot  affect  you,  my  good  fellow.  On 
Friday,  then,  at  six  o'clock  precisely.  Good  afternoon, 
Mr  Newland." 

I  shook  hands  with  the  old  gentleman,  and  returned 
home,  but  my  brain  whirled  with  the  fear  of  a  confirma- 
tion, of  that  which  Mr  Masterton  had  so  carelessly 
conveyed.  Anything  like  a  possibility,  immediately 
was  swelled  to  a  certainty  in  my  imagination,  so  ardent 
and  heated  on  the  one  subject  ;  and  as  soon  as  I  regained 
my  room,  I  threw  myself  on  the  sofa,  and  fell  into  a  deep 
reverie.  I  tried  to  approximate  the  features  of  Lady 
Maelstrom  to  mine,  but  all  the  ingenuity  in  the  world 
could  not  effect  that ;  but  still,  I  might  be  like  my  father 
— but  my  father  was  dead,  and  that  threw  a  chill  over  the 
whole  glowing  picture  which  I  had,  as  usual,  conjured  up  ; 
besides,  it  was  asserted  that  I  was  born  in  wedlock,  and 
there  was  a  doubt  relative  to  the  marriage  of  her  lady- 
ship. 

After  a  long  cogitation  I  jumped  up,  seized  my  hat,  and 
set  off  for  Grosvenor  Square,  determining  to  ask  a  private 
interview  with  her  ladyship,  and  at  once  end  my  harassing 
doubts  and  surmises.  I  think  there  could  not  be  a  greater 
proof  of  my  madness  than  my  venturing  to  attack  a  lady 
of  forty  upon  the  irregularities  of  her  youth,  and  to 
question  her  upon  a  subject  which  had  been  confided  but 
to  two  or  three,  and  she  imagined  had  been  long  forgotten  : 
but  this  never  struck  me ;  all  considerations  were  levelled 
in  my  ardent  pursuit.  I  walked  through  the  streets  at  a 
rapid  pace,  the  crowd  passed  by  me  as  shadows,  I  neither 
saw  nor  distinguished  them  j  I  was  deep  in  reverie  as  to 
the  best  way  of  breaking  the  subject  to  her  ladyship,  for, 
notwithstanding  my  monomania,  I  perceived  it  to  be  a 
point  of  great  delicacy.  After  having  overturned  about 
twenty  people  in  my  mad  career,  I  arrived  at  the  door  and 


Japhetj  in  Search  of  a  Father  179 

knocked.  My  heart  beat  almost  as  hard  against  my  ribs 
with  excitement. 

"  Is  her  ladyship  at  home  .''  " 

"  Yes,  sir." 

I  was  ushered  into  the  drawing-room,  and  found  her 
sitting  with  two  of  her  nieces,  the  Misses  Fairfax. 

"  Mr  Newland,  you  have  been  quite  a  stranger," 
said  her  ladyship,  as  I  walked  up  to  her  and  made  my 
obeisance.  "  I  did  intend  to  scold  you  well ;  but  I 
suppose  that  sad  affair  of  poor  Major  Carbonnell's  has 
been  a  heavy  blow  to  you — you  were  so  intimate — lived 
together,  I  believe,  did  you  not  ?  However,  you  have 
not  so  much  cause  to  regret,  for  he  was  not  a  very  proper 
companion  for  young  men  like  you  :  to  tell  you  the  truth, 
I  consider  it  as  a  fortunate  circumstance  that  he  was 
removed,  for  he  would,  by  degrees,  have  led  you  into  all 
manner  of  mischief,  and  have  persuaded  you  to  squander 
your  fortune.  I  did  at  one  time  think  of  giving  you  a 
hint,  but  it  was  a  delicate  point.  Now  that  he  is  gone,  I 
tell  you  very  candidly  that  you  have  had  an  escape.  A 
young  man  like  you,  Mr  Newland,  who  could  command 
an  alliance  into  the  highest,  yes,  the  very  highest  families 
— and  let  me  tell  you,  Mr  Newland,  that  there  is  nothing 
like  connection — money  is  of  no  consequence  to  you,  but 
connection,  Mr  Newland,  is  what  you  should  look  for — 
connection  with  some  high  family,  and  then  you  will  do 
well.  I  should  like  to  see  you  settled — well  settled, 
I  mean,  Mr  Newland.  Now  that  you  are  rid  of  the  Major, 
who  has  ruined  many  young  men  in  his  time,  I  trust  you 
will  seriously  think  of  settling  down  into  a  married  man. 
Cecilia,  my  dear,  show  your  tambour  work  to  Mr 
Newland,  and  ask  him  his  opinion.  Is  it  not  beautiful, 
Mr  Newland?" 

"  Extremely  beautiful,  indeed,  ma'am,"  replied  I,  glad 
at  last  that  her  ladyship  allowed  me  to  speak  a  word. 

"  Emma,  my  dear,  you  look  pale,  you  must  go  out  into 
the  air.  Go,  children,  put  your  bonnets  on  and  take  a 
turn  in  the  garden,  when  the  carriage  comes  round  I  will 
send  for  you." 


i8o  Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father 

The  young  ladies  quitted  the  room.  "Nice  innocent 
girls,  Mr  Newland ;  but  you  are  not  partial  to  blondes, 
I  believe  ?  " 

"  Indeed,  Lady  Maelstrom,  I  infinitely  prefer  the  blonde 
to  the  brunette." 

"  That  proves  your  taste,  Mr  Newland.  The  Fairfaxes 
are  of  a  very  old  family — Saxon,  Mr  Newland.  Fair-fax 
is  Saxon  for  light  hair.  Is  it  not  remarkable  that  they 
should  be  blondes  to  this  day  t  Pure  blood,  Mr  Newland. 
You,  of  course,  have  heard  of  General  Fairfax,  in  the 
time  of  Cromwell.  He  was  their  direct  ancestor — an 
excellent  family  and  highly  connected,  Mr  Newland.  You 
are  aware  that  they  are  my  nieces.  My  sister  married 
Mr  Fairfax." 

I  paid  the  Misses  Fairfax  the  compliments  which  I 
thought  they  really  deserved,  for  they  were  very  pretty 
amiable  girls,  and  required  no  puffing  on  the  part  of  her 
ladyship  ;  and  then  I  commenced.  "  Your  ladyship  has 
expressed  such  kind  wishes  towards  me,  that  I  cannot  be 
sufficiently  grateful  ;  but,  perhaps,  your  ladyship  may 
think  me  romantic,  I  am  resolved  never  to  marry,  except 
for  love." 

"  A  very  excellent  resolve,  Mr  Newland ;  there  are  few 
young  men  who  care  about  love  now-a-days,  but  I  consider 
that  love  is  a  great  security  for  happiness  in  the  wedded 
state." 

"  True,  madam,  and  what  can  be  more  delightful  than 
a  first  attachment  ?  I  appeal  to  your  ladyship,  was  not 
your  first  attachment  the  most  delightful — are  not  the 
reminiscences  most  lasting — do  you  not,  even  now,  call 
to  mind  those  halcyon  days  when  love  was  all  and  every 
thing?" 

"  My  days  of  romance  are  long  past,  Mr  Newland," 
replied  her  ladyship;  "indeed  I  never  had  much  romance 
in  my  composition.  I  married  Lord  Maelstrom  for  the 
connection,  and  I  loved  him  pretty  well,  that  is,  soberly, 
Mr  Newland.  I  mean,  I  loved  him  quite  enough  to  marry 
him,  and  to  obey  my  parents,  that  is  all." 


Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father  i8i 

"But,  my  dear  Lady  Maelstrom,  I  did  not  refer  to 
your  marriage  with  his  lordship  j  I  referred  to  your  first 
love." 

"My  first  love,  Mr  Newland  ;  pray  what  do  you  mean  ? " 
replied  her  ladyship,  looking  very  hard  at  me. 

"  Your  ladyship  need  not  be  ashamed  of  it.  Our  hearts 
are  not  in  our  own  keeping,  nor  can  we  always  control  our 
passions.     I  have  but  to  mention  the  name  of  Warrender." 

"  Warrender  !  "  shrieked  her  ladyship.  "  Pray,  Mr 
Newland,"  continued  her  ladyship,  recovering  herself, 
"  who  gave  you  that  piece  of  information  ?  " 

"  My  dear  Lady  Maelstrom,  pray  do  not  be  displeased 
with  me,  but  I  am  very  particularly  interested  in  this  affair. 
Your  love  for  Mr  Warrender,  long  before  your  marriage, 
is  well  known  to  me  j  and  it  is  to  that  love,  to  which  I 
referred,  when  I  asked  you  if  it  was  not  most  de- 
lightful." 

"Well,  Mr  Newland,"  replied  her  ladyship,  "how  you 
have  obtained  the  knowledge  I  know  not,  but  there  was, 
I  acknowledge,  a  trifling  flirtation  with  Edward  Warrender 
and  me — but  I  was  young,  very  young  at  that  time." 

"  I  grant  it ;  and  do  not,  for  a  moment,  imagine  that  I 
intend  to  blame  your  ladyship ;  but,  as  I  before  said, 
madam,  I  am  much  interested  in  the  business." 

"What  interest  you  can  have  with  a  little  flirtation  of 
mine,  which  took  place  before  you  were  born,  I  cannot 
imagine,  Mr  Newland." 

"It  is  because  it  took  place  before  I  was  born,  that  I 
feel  so  much  interest." 

"I  cannnot  understand  you,  Mr  Newland,  and  I  think 
we  had  better  change  the  subject." 

"  Excuse  me,  madam,  but  I  must  request  to  continue 
it  a  little  longer.  Is  Mr  Warrender  dead,  or  not  ?  Did 
he  die  in  the  West  Indies  ? " 

"  You  appear  to  be  very  curious  on  this  subject,  Mr 
Newland  j  I  hardly  can  tell.  Yes,  now  I  recollect,  he  did 
die  of  the  yellow  fever,  I  think — but  I  have  quite  forgotten 
all  about  it — and  I  shall  answer  no  more  questions  j  if  you 


1 82  Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father 

were  not  a  favourite  of  mine,  Mr  Newland,  I  should  say 
that  you  were  very  impertinent  " 

"  Then,  your  ladyship,  I  will  put  but  one  more  question, 
and  that  one  I  must  put,  with  your  permission." 

"  I  should  think,  after  what  I  have  said,  Mr  Newland, 
that  you  might  drop  the  subject." 

"  I  will,  your  ladyship,  immediately ;  but,  pardon  me, 
the  question- " 

"  Well,  Mr  Newland ? " 


Do  not  be  angry  with  me- 


"  Well?"  exclaimed  her  ladyship,  who  appeared  alarmed. 

"  Nothing  but  the  most  important  and  imperative  reasons 
could  induce  me  to  ask  the  question"  (her  ladyship  gasped 
for  breath,  and  could  not  speak),  I  stammered,  but  at  last 
I  brought  it  out.  "  What  has  become  of — of — of  the 
sweet  pledge  of  your  love,  Lady  Maelstrom  ? " 

Her  ladyship  coloured  up  with  rage,  raised  up  her 
clenched  hand,  and  then  fell  back  in  violent  hysterics. 


Chapter  XXXV 

I  repair  the  damage,  and  make  things  worse — Plot  and  counter-plot — Tim 
gains  a  watch  by  setting  watch  upon  his  tongue. 

I  HARDLY  knew  how  to  act — if  I  called  the  servants,  my 
interview  would  be  at  an  end,  and  I  was  resolved  to  find 
out  the  truth — for  the  same  reason,  I  did  not  like  to  ring 
for  water.  Some  vases  with  flov/ers  were  on  the  table ; 
I  took  out  the  flowers,  and  threw  the  water  in  her  face, 
but  they  had  been  in  the  water  some  time,  and  had 
discoloured  it  green.  Her  ladyship's  dress  was  a  high 
silk  gown,  of  a  bright  slate  colour,  and  was  immediately 
spoiled ;  but  this  was  no  time  to  stand  upon  trifles.  I 
seized  hold  of  a  glass  bottle,  fancying,  in  my  hurry,  it 
was  eau  de  cologne,  or  some  essence,  and  poured  a  little 
into  her  mouth ;  unfortunately,  it  was  a  bottle  of  marking 
ink,  which  her  ladyship,  who  was   very  economical,  had 


Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father  183 

on  the  table  in  disguise.  I  perceived  my  error,  and  had 
recourse  to  another  vase  of  flowers,  pouring  a  large 
quantity  of  the  green  water  down  her  throat.  Whether 
the  unusual  remedies  had  an  effect  or  not,  I  cannot  tell, 
but  her  ladyship  gradually  revived,  and,  as  she  leant  back 
on  the  sofa,  sobbing,  every  now  and  then,  convulsively, 
I  poured  into  her  ear  a  thousand  apologies,  until  I  thought 
she  was  composed  enough  to  listen  to  me. 

"  Your  ladyship's  maternal  feelings,"  said  I. 

**  It's  all  a  calumny  !  a  base  lie,  sir  !  "  shrieked  she. 

"Nay,  nay,  why  be  ashamed  of  a  youthful  passion; 
.why  deny  what  was  in  itself  creditable  to  your  unsophisti- 
cated mind.  Does  not  your  heart,  even  now,  yearn  to 
embrace  your  son — will  not  you  bless  me,  if  I  bring  him 
to  your  feet — will  not  you  bless  your  son,  and  receive 
him  with  delight  ? " 

**It  was  a  girl,"  screamed  her  ladyship,  forgetting 
herself,  and  again  falling  into  hysterics. 

**  A  girl ! "  replied  I,  **  then  I  have  lost  my  time,  and 
it  is  no  use  my  remaining  here." 

Mortified  at  the  intelligence  which  overthrew  my  hopes 
and  castle  buildings,  I  seized  my  hat,  descended  the  stairs, 
and  quitted  the  house ;  in  my  hurry  and  confusion  quite 
forgetting  to  call  the  servants  to  her  ladyship's  assistance. 
Fortunately,  I  perceived  the  Misses  Fairfax  close  to  the 
iron  railing  of  the  garden.  I  crossed  the  road,  wished 
them  good-bye,  and  told  them  that  I  thought  Lady 
Maelstrom  looked  very  ill,  and  they  had  better  go  in  to 
her.  I  then  threw  myself  into  the  first  hackney-coach, 
and  drove  home.  I  found  Timothy  had  arrived  before 
me,  and  I  narrated  all  that  had  passed. 

**  You  will  never  be  able  to  go  there  again,"  observed 
Timothy,  "and  depend  upon  it,  she  will  be  your  enemy 
through  life.  I  wish  you  had  not  said  anything  to 
her." 

"What  is  done  cannot  be  undone;  but  recollect,  that 
if  she  can  talk,  I  can  talk  also." 

"  Will  she  not  be  afraid  ? " 


184  Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father 

"  Yes,  openly,  she  will  ^  and  open  attacks  can  be 
parried." 

"Very  true." 

"  But  it  will  be  as  well  to  pacify  her,  if  I  can.  I  will 
write  to  her."     I  sat  down  and  wrote  as  follows  : — 

"My  dear  Lady  Maelstrom, — I  am  so  astonished 
and  alarmed  at  the  situation  I  put  you  in,  by  my  im- 
pertinence and  folly,  that  I  hardly  know  how  to  apologise. 
The  fact  is,  that  looking  over  some  of  my  father's  old 
letters,  I  found  many  from  Warrender,  in  which  he  spoke 
of  an  affair  with  a  young  lady,  and  I  read  the  name  as 
your  maiden  name,  and  also  discovered  where  the  offspring 
was  to  be  found.  On  re-examination,  for  your  innocence 
was  too  evident  at  our  meeting  to  admit  of  a  doubt,  I  find 
that  the  name,  although  something  like  yours,  is  spelt  very 
differently,  and  that  I  must  have  been  led  into  an  unpardon- 
able error.  What  can  I  say,  except  that  I  throw  myself 
on  your  mercy  ?  I  dare  not  appear  before  you  again. 
I  leave  town  to-morrow,  but  if  you  can  pardon  my  folly 
and  impertinence,  and  allow  me  to  pay  my  respects  when 
London  is  full  again,  and  time  shall  have  softened  down 
your  just  anger,  write  me  one  line  to  that  effect,  and  you 
will  relieve  the  burdened  conscience  of 

**  Yours  most  truly, 

"  J.  Newland." 

"There,  Tim,"  said  I,  as  I  finished  reading  it  over, 
"  take  that  as  a  sop  to  the  old  Cerberus.  She  may  think 
it  prudent,  as  I  have  talked  of  letters,  to  believe  me  and 
make  friends.     I  will  not  trust  her,  nevertheless." 

Tim  went  away,  and  very  soon  returned  with  an  answer. 

"  You  are  a  foolish  mad-cap,  and  I  ought  to  shut  my 
doors  against  you ;  you  have  half-killed  me — spoilt  my 
gown,  and  I  am  obliged  to  keep  my  bed.  Remember, 
in  future,  to  be  sure  of  the  right  name  before  you  make 
an  assertion.     As  for  forgiving  you,  I  shall  think  of  it, 


Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father  185 

and  when  you  return  to  town,  you  may  call  and  receive 
my  sentence.  Cecilia  was  quite  frightened,  poor  dear 
girl,  what  a  dear  affectionate  child  she  is ! — she  is  a 
treasure  to  me,  and  I  don't  think  I  ever  could  part  with 
her.     She  sends  her  regards. 

*'  Yours, 

"  C.  Maelstrom." 

"  Come,  Timothy,  at  all  events  this  is  better  than  I 
expected — but  now  I'll  tell  you  what  I  propose  to  do. 
Harcourt  was  with  me  yesterday,  and  he  wishes  me  to 

go  down  with  him  to .     There  will  be  the  assizes, 

and  the  county  ball,  and  a  great  deal  of  gaiety,  and  I  have 
an  idea  that  it  is  just  as  well  to  beat  the  country  as  the 
town.  I  dine  with  Mr  Masterton  on  Friday.  On  Saturday 
I  will  go  down  and  see  Fleta,  and  on  Tuesday  or  Wed- 
nesday I  will  start  with  Harcourt  to  his  father's,  where 
he  has  promised  me  a  hearty  welcome.  "Was  there  any- 
thing at  Coleman  Street  ? " 

"Yes,  sir;  Mr  Iving  said  that  he  had  just  received  a 
letter  from  your  correspondent,  and  that  he  wished  to  know 
if  the  little  girl  was  well ;  I  told  him  that  she  was.  Mr 
Iving  laid  the  letter  down  on  the  desk,  and  I  read  the  post- 
mark, Dublin." 

"  Dublin,"  replied  I.  "I  should  like  to  find  out  who 
Melchior  is — and  so  I  will  as  soon  as  I  can." 

"Well,  sir,  I  have  not  finished  my  story.  Mr  Iving 
said,  *  My  correspondent  wishes  to  know  whether  the 
education  of  the  little  girl  is  attended  to  ? '  *  Yes,'  replied 
I,  *  it  is.'  *  Is  she  at  school  ? '  *  Yes,  she  has  been  at  school 
ever  since  we  have  been  in  London.'  *  Where  is  she  at 
school  ?  '  inquired  he.  Now,  sir,  as  I  never  was  asked  that 
question  by  him  before,  I  did  not  know  whether  I  ought 
to  give  an  answer,  so  I  replied,  *  that  I  did  not  know.' 

*  You  know  whether  she  is  in  London  or  not,  do  you  not  ? ' 

*  How  should  I  ? '  replied  I,  *  master  had  put  her  to  school 
before  I  put  on  his  liveries.'  *  Does  he  never  go  to  see 
her  ? '  inquired  he.     '  I  suppose  so,'  said  I.     *  Then  you 


1 86  Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father 

really  know  nothing  about  it  ? — then  look  you,  my  lad,  I 
am  anxious  to  find  out  where  she  is  at  school,  and  the 
name  of  the  people,  and  if  you  will  find  out  the  direction 
for  me,  it  will  be  money  in  your  pocket,  that's  all.'  *  Um,' 
replied  I,  '  but  how  much  ? '  *  Why,  more  than  you  think 
for,  my  man,  it  will  be  a  ten-pound  note.'  *That  alters 
the  case,'  replied  I ;  '  now  I  think  again,  I  have  an  idea  that 
I  do  remember  seeing  her  address  on  a  letter  my  master 
wrote  to  her.'  *  Ay,'  replied  Mr  Iving,  *  it's  astonishing 
how  money  sharpens  the  memory.  I'll  keep  to  my  bargain ; 
give  me  the  address,  and  here's  the  ten-pound  note.'  '  I'm 
afraid  that  my  master  will  be  angry,'  said  I,  as  if  I  did  not 
much  like  to  tell  him.  *  Your  master  will  never  know  any- 
thing about  it,  and  you  may  serve  a  long  time  before  he 
gives  you  a  ten-pound  note  above  your  wages.'  *  That's 
very  true,'  said  I,  *  sarvice  is  no  inheritance.  Well,  then, 
give  me  the  money,  and  I'll  write  it  down.' " 

"  And  did  you  give  it  ?  "  interrupted  I. 

**  Stop  a  moment,  sir,  and  you  shall  hear.  I  wrote  down 
the  address  of  that  large  school  at  Kensington,  which  we 
pass  when  we  go  to  Mr  Aubrey  White's." 

"  What,  that  tremendous  large  board  with  yellow  letters 
— Mrs  Let — what  is  it  ? " 

**  Mrs  Lipscombe's  seminary — I  always  read  the  board 
every  time  I  go  up  and  down,  I  gave  him  the  address,  Miss 
Johnson,  at  Mrs  Lipscombe's  seminary,  Kensington.  Well — 
and  here's  the  ten-pound  note,  sir,  which  I  have  fairly  earned." 

"Fairly  earned,  Tim?" 

"  Yes,  fairly  earned  ;  for  it's  all  fair  to  cheat  those  who 
would  cheat  you. ' 

"  I  cannot  altogether  agree  with  you  on  that  point, 
Tim,  but  it  certainly  is  no  more  than  they  deserve ;  but 
this  is  matter  for  reflection.  Why  should  Melchior  wish 
to  find  out  her  address  without  my  knowledge  ? — depend 
upon  it,  there  is  something  wrong." 

"  That's  what  I  said  to  myself  coming  home  ;  and  I  made 
up  my  mind,  that,  for  some  reason  or  another,  he  wishes 
to  regain  possession  of  her." 


Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father  187 

"  I  entertain  the  same  idea,  Timothy,  and  I  am  glad  you 
have  disappointed  him.  I  will  take  care  that  they  shall  not 
find  her  out,  now  that  I  am  upon  my  guard." 

"But,  sir,  I  wish  to  draw  one  good  moral  from  this 
circumstance  ;  which  is,  that  if  you  had  been  served  by  any 
common  footman,  your  interest  would,  in  all  probability, 
have  been  sacrificed  to  the  ten-pound  note ;  and  that  not 
only  in  this  instance,  but  in  many  others,  I  did  a  very  wise 
thing  in  taking  my  present  situation." 

"  I  am  but  too  well  aware  of  that,  Tim,  my  dear  fellow," 
said  I,  extending  my  hand,  "  and  depend  upon  it,  that  if  I 
rise,  you  do.     You  know  me  well  enough  by  this  time." 

"  Yes,  I  do,  Japhet,  and  had  rather  serve  you  than  the 
first  nobleman  in  the  land.  I'm  going  to  purchase  a  watch 
with  this  ten-pound  note,  and  I  never  shall  look  at  it  with- 
out remembering  the  advantage  of  keeping  a  watch  over 
my  tongue." 

Chapter  XXXVI 

I  fall  very  much  in  love  with  honesty  because  I  find  that  it  is  well  received 
in  the  world — and  to  prove  my  honesty,  inform  the  whole  world  that 
honest  I  have  never  been. 

I  PROVED  the  will  of  Major  Carbonnell,  in  which  there  was 
no  difficulty ;  and  then  I  sat  down  to  consider  in  what  way 
I  might  best  husband  my  resources.  The  house  was  in 
good  repair,  and  well  furnished.  At  the  time  that  I  lived 
with  the  Major,  we  had  our  drawing-room,  and  his  bed- 
room, and  another  room  equally  large,  used  as  his  dressing- 
room,  on  the  first  floor.  The  second  floor  was  appropriated 
to  me,  and  the  sitting-room  was  used  as  a  dining-room 
when  we  dined  at  home,  which  was  but  seldom.  The 
basement  was  let  as  a  shop,  at  one  hundred  pounds  per 
annum,  but  we  had  a  private  door  for  entrance,  and  the 
kitchens  and  attics.  I  resolved  to  retain  only  the  first- 
floor,  and  let  the  remainder  of  the  house ;  and  I  very  soon 
got  a  tenant  at  sixty  pounds  per  annum.     The  attics  were 


i88  Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father 

appropriated  to  Timothy  and  the  servants  belonging  to  the 
lodger. 

After  having  disposed  of  what  was  of  no  service  to  me, 
I  found  that,  deducting  the  thousand  pounds  paid  into  the 
banker's,  for  Lord  Windermear,  I  had  a  little  above  three 
thousand  pounds  in  ready  money,  and  what  to  do  with  this 
I  could  not  well  decide.  I  applied  to  Mr  Masterton, 
stating  the  exact  amount  of  my  finances,  on  the  day  that  I 
dined  with  him,  and  he  replied,  "  You  have  two  good 
tenants,  bringing  you  in  one  hundred  and  sixty  pounds  per 
annum — if  this  money  is  put  out  on  mortgage,  I  can 
procure  you  five  per  cent.,  which  will  be  one  hundred  and 
fifty  pounds  per  annum.  Now,  the  question  is,  do  you 
think  that  you  can  live  upon  three  hundred  and  ten  pounds 
per  annum  ?  You  have  no  rent  to  pay,  and  I  should  think 
that,  as  you  are  not  at  any  great  expense  for  a  servant,  you 
might,  with  economy,  do  very  well.  Recollect,  that  if 
your  money  is  lent  on  mortgage,  you  will  not  be  able  to 
obtain  it  at  a  moment's  warning.  So  reflect  well  before 
you  decide." 

I  consulted  with  Timothy,  and  agreed  to  lend  the 
money,  reserving  about  two  hundred  pounds  to  go  on 
with,  until  I  should  receive  my  rents  and  interest.  On  the 
Friday  I  went  to  dine  with  Mr  Masterton,  and  narrated 
what  had  passed  between  me  and  Lady  Maelstrom.  He 
was  very  much  diverted,  and  laughed  immoderately. 
"Upon  my  faith,  Mr  Newland,  but  you  have  a  singular 
species  of  madness  ;  you  first  attack  Lord  Windermear, 
then  a  bishop,  and,  to  crown  all,  you  attack  a  dowager 
peeress.  I  must  acknowledge,  that  if  you  do  not  find  out 
your  parents,  it  will  not  be  for  want  of  inquiry.  Altogether, 
you  are  a  most  singular  character  •,  your  history  is  most 
singular,  and  your  good  fortune  is  equally  so.  You  have 
made  more  friends  before  you  have  come  to  age,  than  most 
people  do  in  their  whole  lives.  You  commence  the  world 
with  nothing,  and  here  you  are,  v/ith  almost  a  competence 
— have  paid  off  a  loan  of  one  thousand  pounds,  which  was 
not  required — and  are  moving  in  the  best  society.     Now 


Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father  189 

the  only  drawback  I  perceive  in  all  this  is,  that  you  are  in 
society  under  false  colours,  having  made  people  suppose 
that  you  are  possessed  of  a  large  fortune." 

"  It  was  not  exactly  my  assertion,  sir." 

"  No,  I  grant,  not  exactly  ;  but  you  have  been  a  party 
to  it,  and  I  cannot  allow  that  there  is  any  difference. 
Now,  do  you  mean  to  allow  this  supposition  to  remain 
uncontradicted  ? " 

"  I  hardly  know  what  to  say,  sir  ;  if  I  were  to  state  that 
I  have  nothing  but  a  bare  competence,  it  will  be  only 
injurious  to  the  memory  of  Major  Carbonnell.  All  the 
world  will  suppose  that  he  has  ruined  me,  and  that  I  had 
the  fortune,  whereas,  on  the  contrary,  it  is  to  him  that  I 
am  indebted  for  my  present  favourable  position." 

"  That  may  be  very  true,  Mr  Newland  j  but  if  I  am  to 
consider  you  as  my  protege,  and  I  may  add  the  protege  of 
Lord  Windermear,  I  must  make  you  quite  honest — I  will  be 
no  party  to  fraud  in  any  shape.  Are  you  prepared  to 
resign  your  borrowed  plumes,  and  appear  before  the  world 
as  you  really  are  ? " 

"  There  is  but  one  inducement,  sir,  for  me  to  wish  that 
the  world  may  still  deceive  themselves.  I  may  be  thrown 
out  of  society,  and  lose  the  opportunity  of  discovering 
my  parents." 

"  And  pray,  Mr  Newland,  which  do  you  think  is  more 
likely  to  tend  to  the  discovery,  a  general  knowledge  that 
you  are  a  foundling  in  search  of  your  parents,  or  your 
present  method,  of  taxing  everybody  upon  suspicion.  If 
your  parents  wish  to  reclaim  you,  they  will  then  have  their 
eyes  directed  towards  you,  from  your  position  being 
known ;  and  I  will  add,  there  are  few  parents  who  will 
not  be  proud  of  you  as  a  son.  You  will  have  the  patronage 
of  Lord  Windermear,  which  will  always  secure  you  a 
position  in  society,  and  the  good  wishes  of  all,  although,  I 
grant,  that  such  worldly  people  as  Lady  Maelstrom  may 
strike  your  name  off  their  porter's  list.  You  will,  more- 
over, have  the  satisfaction  of  knowing  that  the  friends 
which  you  make  have  not  been  made  under  false  colours 


190  Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father 

and  appearances,  and  a  still  further  satisfaction,  arising 
from  a  good  conscience." 

"  I  am  convinced,  sir,  and  I  thank  you  for  your  advice. 
I  will  now  be  guided  by  you  in  everything." 

"  Give  me  your  hand,  my  good  lad,  I  now  will  be  your 
friend  to  the  utmost  of  my  power." 

"  I  only  wish,  sir,"  replied  I,  much  affected,  "  that  you 
were  also  my  father." 

"  Thank  you  for  the  wish,  as  it  implies  that  you  have  a 
good  opinion  of  me.     What  do  you  mean  to  do  ?  " 

''I  have  promised  my  friend  Mr  Harcourt  to  go  down 
with  him  to  his  father's." 

"Well?" 

"  And  before  I  go  I  will  undeceive  him." 

"  You  are  right ;  you  will  then  find  whether  he  is  a 
friend  to  you  or  to  your  supposed  ten  thousand  pounds  per 
annum.  I  have  been  reflecting,  and  I  am  not  aware  that 
anything  else  can  be  done  at  present  than  acknowledging 
to  the  world  who  you  really  are,  which  is  more  likely  to 
tend  to  the  discovery  of  your  parents  than  any  other  means, 
but  at  the  same  time  I  shall  not  be  idle.  All  we  lawyers 
have  among  us  strange  secrets,  and  among  my  fraternity, 
to  whom  I  shall  speak  openly,  I  think  it  possible  that 
something  may  be  found  out  which  may  serve  as  a  clue. 
Do  not  be  annoyed  at  being  cut  by  many,  when  your 
history  is  known  j  those  who  cut  you  are  those  whose 
acquaintance  and  friendship  are  not  worth  having  j  it  will 
unmask  your  flatterers  from  your  friends,  and  you  will  not 
repent  of  your  having  been  honest ;  in  the  end,  it  is  the 
best  policy,  even  in  a  worldly  point  of  view.  Come  to  me 
as  often  as  you  please ;  I  am  always  at  home  to  you,  and 
always  your  friend." 

Such  was  the  result  of  my  dinner  with  Mr  Masterton, 
which  I  narrated  to  Timothy  as  soon  as  I  returned  home. 
"  Well,  Japhet,  I  think  you  have  found  a  real  friend  in 
Mr  Masterton,  and  I  am  glad  that  you  have  decided  upon 
following  his  advice.  As  for  me,  I  am  not  under  false 
colours,  I  am  in  my  right  situation,  and  wish  no  more." 


Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father  191 

In  pursuance  of  my  promise  to  Mr  Masterton,  I  called 
upon  Harcourt  the  next  morning,  and  after  stating  my 
intention  to  go  down  for  a  day  or  two  into  the  country 
to  see  a  little  girl  who  was  under  my  care,  I  said  to  him, 
**  Harcourt,  as  long  as  we  were  only  town  acquaintances, 
mixing  in  society,  and  under  no  peculiar  obligation  to 
each  other,  I  did  not  think  it  worth  while  to  undeceive 
you  on  a  point  in  which  Major  Carbonnell  was  deceived 
himself,  and  has  deceived  others ;  but  now  that  you  have 
offered  to  introduce  me  into  the  bosom  of  your  family, 
I  cannot  allow  you  to  remain  in  error.  It  is  generally 
supposed  that  I  am  about  to  enter  into  a  large  property 
when  I  come  of  age ;  now,  so  far  from  that  being  the 
case,  I  have  nothing  in  the  world  but  a  bare  competence, 
and  the  friendship  of  Lord  Windermear.  In  fact,  I  am 
a  deserted  child,  ignorant  of  my  parents,  and  most  anxious 
to  discover  them,  as  I  have  every  reason  to  suppose  that 
I  am  of  no  mean  birth.  I  tell  you  this  candidly,  and 
unless  you  renew  the  invitation,  shall  consider  that  it 
has  not  been  given." 

Harcourt  remained  a  short  time  without  answering. 
**  You  really  have  astonished  me,  Newland ;  but,"  con- 
tinued he,  extending  his  hand,  "  I  admire — I  respect  you, 
and  I  feel  that  I  shall  like  you  better.  With  ten  thousand 
pounds  a-year,  you  were  above  me — now  we  are  but 
equals.  I,  as  a  younger  brother,  have  but  a  bare  com- 
petence, as  well  as  you ;  and  as  for  parents — for  the 
benefit  I  now  derive  from  them,  I  might  as  well  have 
none.  Not  but  my  father  is  a  worthy,  fine  old  gentleman, 
but  the  estates  are  entailed ;  he  is  obliged  to  keep  up  his 
position  in  society,  and  he  has  a  large  family  to  provide 
for,  and  he  can  do  no  more.  You  have  indeed  an  un- 
common moral  courage  to  have  made  this  confession.  Do 
you  wish  it  to  be  kept  a  secret  ? " 

"  On  the  contrary,  I  wish  the  truth  to  be  known." 

**  I  am  glad  that  you  say  so,  as  I  have  mentioned  you 
as  a  young  man  of  large  fortune  to  my  father,  but  I  feel 
convinced,  when  I  tell  him  this  conversation,  he  will  be 


192  Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father 

much  more  pleased  in  taking  you  by  the  hand,  than  if 
you  were  to  come  down  and  propose  to  one  of  my  sisters. 
I  repeat  the  invitation  with  double  the  pleasure  that  I 
gave  it  at  first." 

"  I  thank  you,  Harcourt,"  replied  I ;  "  some  day  I  will 
tell  you  more.  I  must  not  expect,  however,  that  every- 
body will  prove  themselves  as  noble  in  ideas  as  yourself." 

"  Perhaps  not,  but  never  mind  that.  On  Friday  next 
then,  we  start." 

"  Agreed."     I  shook  hands  and  left  him. 


Chapter  XXXVII 

I  try  back  to    recover  the   lost  scent,  and   discover   to  my  astonishment, 
that  I  have  been  transported  for  forgery. 

The  behaviour  of  Harcourt  was  certainly  a  good  en- 
couragement, and  had  I  been  wavering  in  my  promise  to 
Mr  Masterton,  would  have  encouraged  me  to  proceed. 
I  returned  home  with  a  light  heart  and  a  pleasing  satis- 
faction, from  the  conviction  that  I  had  done  right.     The 

next  morning  I  set  off  for ,  and,  as  it  was  a  long 

while  since  I  had  seen  Fleta,  our  meeting  was  a  source 
of  delight  on  both  sides.  I  found  her  very  much  grown 
and  improved.  She  was  approaching  her  fifteenth  year, 
as  nearly  as  we  could  guess — of  course  her  exact  age 
was  a  mystery.  Her  mind  was  equally  expanded.  Her 
mistress  praised  her  docility  and  application,  and  wished 
to  know  whether  I  intended  that  she  should  be  taught 
music  and  drawing,  for  both  of  which  she  had  shown 
a  decided  taste.  To  this  I  immediately  consented,  and 
Fleta  hung  on  my  shoulder  and  embraced  me  for  the 
indulgence.  She  was  now  fast  approaching  to  woman- 
hood, and  my  feelings  towards  her  were  more  intense 
than  ever.  I  took  the  chain  of  coral  and  gold  beads 
from  her  neck,  telling  her  that  I  must  put  it  into  a  secure 
place,  as  much   depended   upon  them.     She  was  curious 


Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father  193 

to  know  why,  but  I  would  not  enter  into  the  subject 
at  that  time.  One  caution  I  gave  her,  in  case,  by  any 
chance,  her  retreat  should  be  discovered  by  the  companions 
of  Melchior,  which  was,  that  without  I  myself  came,  she 
was,  on  no  account,  to  leave  the  school,  even  if  a  letter 
from  me  was  produced,  requesting  her  to  come,  unless 
that  letter  was  delivered  by  Timothy.  I  gave  the  same 
directions  to  her  mistress,  paid  up  her  schooling  and 
expenses,  and  then  left  her,  promising  not  to  be  so  long 
before  I  saw  her  again.  On  my  return  to  town  I 
deposited  the  necklace  with  Mr  Masterton,  who  locked 
it  up  carefully  in  his  iron  safe. 

On  the  Friday,  as  agreed,  Harcourt  and  I,  accompanied 
by  Timothy  and  Harcourt's  servant,  started  on  the  outside 
of  the  coach,  as  younger  brothers  usually  convey  them- 
selves, for  his  father's  seat  in shire,  and  arrived  there 

in  time  for  dinner.  I  was  kindly  received  by  old  Mr 
Harcourt  and  his  family,  consisting  of  his  wife  and  three 
amiable  and  beautiful  girls.  But  on  the  second  day, 
during  which  interval  I  presume  Harcourt  had  an  oppor- 
tunity of  undeceiving  his  father,  I  was  delighted  to  per- 
ceive that  the  old  gentleman's  warmth  of  behaviour 
towards  me  was  increased.  I  remained  there  for  a  fort- 
night, and  never  was  so  happy.  I  was  soon  on  the  most 
intimate  terms  with  the  whole  family,  and  was  treated  as 
if  I  belonged  to  it.  Yet  when  I  went  to  bed  every  night, 
I  became  more  and  more  melancholy.  I  felt  what  a 
delight  it  must  be  to  have  parents,  sisters,  and  friends — 
the  bosom  of  a  family  to  retire  into,  to  share  with  it  your 
pleasures  and  your  pains ;  and  the  tears  often  ran  down 
my  cheeks,  and  moistened  my  pillow,  when  I  had,  not  an 
hour  before,  been  the  happiest  of  the  happy,  and  the 
gayest  of  the  gay.  In  a  family  party,  there  is  nothing  so 
amusing  as  any  little  talent  out  of  the  general  way,  and 
my  performances  and  tricks  on  cards,  &c.,  in  which 
Melchior  had  made  me  such  an  adept,  were  now  brought 
forward  as  a  source  of  innocent  gratification.  When  I 
quitted,  I  had  a  general  and  hearty  welcome  to  the  house 

F  N 


194  Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father 

from  the  parents;  and  the  eyes  of  the  amiable  girls,  as 
well  as  mine,  were  not  exactly  dry,  as  we  bade  each  other 
farewell. 

**  You  told  your  father,  Harcourt,  did  you  not  ? " 

"  Yes,  and  the  whole  of  them,  Japhet ;  and  you  must 
acknowledge,  that  in  their  estimation  you  did  not  suffer. 
My  father  is  pleased  with  our  intimacy,  and  advises  me  to 
cultivate  it.  To  prove  to  you  that  I  am  anxious  so  to  do, 
I  have  a  proposal  to  make.  I  know  your  house  as  well  as 
you  do,  and  that  you  have  reserved  only  the  first  floor  for 
yourself;  but  there  are  two  good  rooms  on  the  first  floor, 
and  you  can  dispense  with  a  dressing-room.  Suppose  we 
club  together.  It  will  be  a  saving  to  us  both,  as  poor 
Carbonnell  said,  when  he  took  you  in." 

"With  all  my  heart:  I  am  delighted  with  the  proposal." 

Harcourt  then  stated  what  it  was  his  intention  to  offer 
for  his  share  of  the  apartment ;  the  other  expenses  to  be 
divided,  and  his  servant  dismissed.  I  hardly  need  say, 
that  we  did  not  disagree,  and  before  I  had  been  a  week  in 
town,  we  were  living  together.  My  interview  with  Mr 
Masterton,  and  subsequent  events,  had  made  me  forget  to 
call  on  the  governors  of  the  Foundling  Hospital,  to  ascer- 
tain whether  there  had  been  any  inquiries  after  me.  On 
my  return  to  town  I  went  there,  and  finding  that  there 
was  a  meeting  to  be  held  on  the  next  day,  I  presented 
myself.  I  was  introduced  into  the  room  where  they  were 
assembled. 

**  You  wish  to  speak  with  the  governors  of  the  Hospital, 
I  understand,"  said  the  presiding  governor. 

"  Yes,  sir,"  replied  I ;  "  I  have  come  to  ask  whether  an 
inquiry  has  been  made  after  one  of  the  inmates  of  this 
charity,  of  the  name  of  Japhet  Newland." 

"  Japhet  Newland  !  " 

"If  you  recollect,  sir,  he  was  bound  to  an  apothecary 
of  the  name  of  Cophagus,  in  consequence  of  some  money 
which  was  left  with  him  as  an  infant,  enclosed  in  a  letter, 
in  which  it  was  said  that  he  would  be  reclaimed  if  circum- 
stances permitted." 


Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father  195 

**  I  recollect  it  perfectly  well — it  is  now  about  six  years 
back.  I  think  there  was  some  inquiry,  was  there  not, 
MrG ?" 

**  I  think  that  there  was,  about  a  year  and  a  half  ago  5 
but  we  will  send  for  the  secretary,  and  refer  to  the 
minutes." 

My  heart  beat  quick,  and  the  perspiration  bedewed  my 
forehead,  when  I  heard  this  intelligence.  At  last,  my 
emotion  was  so  great,  that  I  felt  faint.  "  You  are  ill, 
sir,"  said  one  of  the  gentlemen  5  "  quick — a  glass  of 
water." 

The  attendant  brought  a  glass  of  water,  which  I  drank, 
and  recovered  myself.  "You  appear  to  be  much  interested 
in  this  young  man's  welfare." 

"  I  am,  sir,"  replied  I ;  **  no  one  can  be  more  so." 

The  secretary  now  made  his  appearance  with  the  register, 
and  after  turning  over  the  leaves,  read  as  follows:  "August 

the   1 6th ,  a  gentleman  came  to  inquire  after  an  infant 

left  here,  of  the  name  of  Japhet,  with  whom  money  had 
been  deposited  —  Japhet,  christened  by  order  of  the 
governors,  Japhet  Newland — referred  to  the  shop  of  Mr 
Cophagus,  Smithfield  Market.  He  returned  the  next  day, 
saying  that  Mr  Cophagus  had  retired  from  business-^that 
the  parties  in  the  shop  knew  nothing  for  certain,  but 
believed  that  the  said  Japhet  Newland  had  been  transported 
for  life  for  forgery,  about  a  year  before." 

"  Good  heavens  !  what  an  infamous  assertion ! "  ex- 
claimed I,  clasping  my  hands. 

**  On  reference  back  to  the  calendar,  we  observed  that 
one  J.  Newland  was  transported  for  such  an  offence. 
Query  ? " 

"It  must  have  been  some  other  person;  but  this  has 
arisen  from  the  vindictive  feeling  of  those  two  scoundrels 
who  served  under  Pleggit,"  cried  I. 

"  How  can  you  possibly  tell,  sir  ?  "  mildly  observed  one 
of  the  governors. 

"  How  can  I  tell,  sir !  "  replied  I,  starting  from  my 
chair.     "  Why,  I  am  Japhet  Newland  myself,  sir." 


196  Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father 

"  You,  sir,"  replied  the  governor,  surveying  my  fashion- 
able exterior,  my  chains,  and  bijouterie. 

"  Yes,  sir,  I  am  the  Japhet  Newland  brought  up  in  this 
asylum,  and  who  was  apprenticed  to  Mr  Cophagus." 

"Probably,  then,  sir,"  replied  the  president,  "you  are 
the  Mr  Newland  whose  name  appears  at  all  the  fashion- 
able parties  in  high  life  ? " 

"  I  believe  that  I  am  the  same  person,  sir." 

"  I  wish  you  joy  upon  your  success  in  the  world,  sir. 
It  would  not  appear  that  it  can  be  very  important  to  you 
to  discover  your  parents." 

"Sir,"  replied  I,  "you  have  never  known  what  it  is 
to  feel  the  want  of  parents  and  friends.  Fortunate  as 
you  may  consider  me  to  be — and  I  acknowledge  I  have 
every  reason  to  be  grateful  for  my  unexpected  rise  in 
life — I  would,  at  this  moment,  give  up  all  that  I  am 
worth,  resume  my  Foundling  dress,  and  be  turned  out  a 
beggar,  if  I  could  but  discover  the  authors  of  my  exist- 
ence."— I  then  bowed  low  to  the  governors,  and  quitted 
the  room. 


Chapter  XXXVIII 

Mischief  brewing — Timothy  and  I  set  our  wits  to  work,  and  he  resumes 
his  old  profession  of  a  gipsy. 

I  HASTENED  homc  with  feelings  too  painful  to  be  described. 
I  had  a  soreness  at  my  heart,  an  oppression  on  my  spirits, 
which  weighed  me  down.  I  had  but  one  wish — that  I 
was  dead.  I  had  already  imparted  to  Harcourt  the  history 
of  my  life,  and  when  I  came  in,  I  threw  myself  upon  the 
sofa  in  despair,  and  relieved  my  agonised  heart  with  a 
flood  of  tears.  As  soon  as  I  could  compose  myself,  I 
stated  what  had  occurred. 

"  My  dear  Newland,  although  it  has  been  an  un- 
fortunate occurrence  in  itself,  I  do  not  see  that  you  have 
so  much  cause  to  grieve,  for  you  have  this  satisfaction, 
that  it  appears  there  has  been  a  wish  to  reclaim  you." 


Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father  197 

**  Yes,"  replied  I,  "  I  grant  that,  but  have  they  not 
been  told,  and  have  they  not  believed,  that  I  have  been 
ignominiously  punished  for  a  capital  crime  ?  Will  they 
ever  seek  me  more  ? " 

"  Probably  not ;  you  must  now  seek  them.  What  I 
should  recommend  is,  that  you  repair  to-morrow  to  the 
apothecary's  shop,  and  interrogate  relative  to  the  person 
who  called  to  make  inquiries  after  you.  If  you  will 
allow  me,  I  will  go  with  you." 

"  And  be  insulted  by  those  malignant  scoundrels  ? " 

"They  dare  not  insult  you.  As  an  apothecary's 
apprentice  they  would,  but  as  a  gentleman  they  will 
quail ;  and  if  they  do  not,  their  master  will  most  certainly 
be  civil,  and  give  you  all  the  information  which  he  can. 
We  may  as  well,  however,  not  do  things  by  halves;  I 
will  borrow  my  aunt's  carriage  for  the  morning,  and  we 
will  go  in  style." 

"I  think  I  will  call  this  evening  upon  Mr  Masterton, 
and  ask  his  advice." 

"  Ask  him  to  accompany  us,  Newland,  and  he  will 
frighten  them  with  libel,  and  defamation  of  character." 

I  called  upon  Mr  Masterton,  that  evening,  and  told  my 
story.  "It  is  indeed  very  provoking,  Newland ;  but 
keep  your  courage  up,  I  will  go  with  you  to-morrow, 
and  will  see  what  we  can  make  of  it.  At  what  time  do 
you  propose  to  start  ?  " 

"  Will  it  suit  you,  sir,  if  we  call  at  one  o'clock  ? " 

"  Yes  ;  so  good-night,  my  boy,  for  I  have  something  here 
which  I  must  contrive  to  get  through  before  that  time." 

Harcourt  had  procured  the  carriage,  and  we  picked 
up  Mr  Masterton  at  the  hour  agreed,  and  proceeded  to 
Smithfield.  When  we  drove  up  to  the  door  of  Mr 
Pleggit's  shop,  the  assistants  at  first  imagined  that  it  was 
a  mistake  ;  few  handsome  carriages  are  to  be  seen  stopping 
in  this  quarter  of  the  metropolis.  We  descended  and 
entered  the  shop,  Mr  Masterton  inquiring  if  Mr  Pleggit 
was  at  home.  The  shopmen,  who  had  not  recognised 
me,  bowed  to  the  ground  in  their  awkward  way  j  and  one 


198  Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father 

ran  to  call  Mr  Pleggit,  who  was  up  stairs.  Mr  Pleggit 
descended,  and  we  walked  into  the  back  parlour.  Mr 
Masterton  then  told  him  the  object  of  our  calling,  and 
requested  to  know  why  the  gentleman,  who  had  inquired 
after  me,  had  been  sent  away  with  the  infamous  fabrica- 
tion that  I  had  been  transported  for  forgery.  Mr  Pleggit 
protested  innocence — recollected,  however,  that  a  person 
had  called — would  make  every  inquiry  of  his  shopmen. 
The  head  man  was  called  in  and  interrogated — at  first  he 
appeared  to  make  a  joke  of  it,  but  when  threatened  by 
Mr  Masterton  became  humble — acknowledged  that  they 
had  said  that  I  was  transported,  for  they  had  read  it  in 
the  newspapers — was  sorry  for  the  mistake ;  said  that  the 
gentleman  was  a  very  tall  person,  very  well  dressed, 
very  much  of  a  gentleman — could  not  recollect  his  exact 
dress — was  a  large  built  man,  with  a  stern  face — but 
seemed  very  much  agitated  when  he  heard  that  I  had 
been  transported.  Called  twice,  Mr  Pleggit  was  not  in 
at  first — left  his  name — thinks  the  name  was  put  down 
on  the  day  book — when  he  called  a  second  time,  Mr 
Pleggit  was  at  home,  and  referred  him  to  them,  not 
knowing  what  had  become  of  me.  The  other  shopman 
was  examined,  and  his  evidence  proved  similar  to  that  of 
the  first.     The  day-book  was   sent  for,  and  the  day  in 

August referred   to;    there   was   a   name   written 

down  on  the  side  of  the  page,  which  the  shopman  said  he 
had  no  doubt,  indeed  he  could  almost  swear,  was  the 
gentleman's  name,  as  there  was  no  other  name  put  down 
on  that  day.  The  name,  as  taken  down,  was  Derbennon. 
This  was  all  the  information  we  could  obtain,  and  we 
then  quitted  the  shop,  and  drove  off  without  there  being 
any  recognition  of  me  on  the  part  of  Mr  Pleggit  and  his 
assistants. 

"  I  never  heard  that  name  before,"  observed  Harcourt 
to  Mr  Masterton. 

"It  is,  in  all  probability,  De  Benyon,"  replied  the 
lawyer ;  **  we  must  make  allowances  for  their  ignorance. 
At  all  events,  this  is  a  sort  of  clue  to  follow  up.  The 
De  Benyons  are  Irish." 


Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father  199 

"  Then  I  will  set  off  for  Ireland  to-morrow  morning, 
sir,"  said  I. 

You    will   do  no  such   thing,"   replied  the   lawyer; 

but  you  will  call  upon  me  to-morrow  evening,  and 
perhaps  I  may  have  something  to  say  to  you." 

I  did  not  fail  to  attend  Mr  Masterton,  who  stated  that 
he  had  made  every  inquiry  relative  to  the  De  Benyons ;  as 
he  had  said,  they  were  an  Irish  family  of  the  highest  rank, 
and  holding  the  peerage  of  De  Beauvoir ;  but  that  he  had 
written  to  his  agent  in  Dublin,  giving  him  directions  to 
obtain  for  him  every  possible  information  in  his  power 
relative  to  all  the  individuals  composing  it.  Till  this  had 
been  received,  all  that  I  could  do  was  to  remain  quiet.  I 
then  narrated  to  him  the  behaviour  of  the  agent,  Mr 
Iving,  to  Timothy.  "  There  is  some  mystery  there,  most 
assuredly,"  observed  Mr  Masterton ;  "  When  do  you  go 
again  to ? " 

I  replied,  that  it  was  not  my  intention  to  go  there  for 
some  time,  unless  he  would  wish  to  see  the  little  girl. 

**  I  do,  Newland.  I  think  I  must  take  her  under  my 
protection  as  well  as  you.  "We  will  go  down  to-morrow. 
Sunday  is  the  only  day  I  can  spare  j  but  it  must  be  put 
down  as  a  work  of  charity." 

The   next  day  we   went   down   to .     Fleta   was 

surprised  to  see  me  so  soon,  and  Mr  Masterton  was  much 
struck  with  the  elegance  and  classical  features  of  my  little 
protegee.  He  asked  her  many  questions,  and  with  his 
legal  tact,  contrived  to  draw  from  her  many  little  points 
relative  to  her  infant  days,  which  she  had,  till  Jie  put  his 
probing  questions,  quite  forgotten.  As  we  returned  to 
town,  he  observed,  "  You  are  right,  Japhet,  that  is  no 
child  of  humble  origin.  Her  very  appearance  contradicts 
it ;  but  we  have,  I  think,  a  chance  of  discovering  who  she 
is — a  better  one,  Fm  afraid,  than  at  present  we  have  for 
your  identification.  But  never  mind,  let  us  trust  to 
perseverance." 

For  three  weeks  I  continued  to  live  with  Harcourt,  but 
I  did  not  go  out  much.     Such  was  the  state  of  my  affairs, 


200  Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father 

when  Timothy  came  to  my  room  one  morning,  and  said, 
"  I  do  not  know  whether  you  have  observed  it,  sir ;  but 
there  is  a  man  constantly  lurking  about  here,  watching 
the  house,  I  believe.  I  think,  but  still  I'm  not  quite  sure, 
that  I  have  seen  his  face  before;  but  where  I  cannot 
recollect." 

"  Indeed,  what  sort  of  a  person  may  he  be  ? " 

"  He  is  a  very  dark  man,  stout,  and  well  made ;  and  is 
dressed  in  a  sort  of  half-sailor,  half-gentleman's  dress ; 
such  as  you  see  put  on  by  those  who  belong  to  the  Funny 
Clubs  on  the  river  -,  but  he  is  not  at  all  a  gentleman  himself 
— quite  the  contrary.  It  is  now  about  a  week  that  I  have 
seen  him,  every  day ;  and  I  have  watched  him,  and 
perceive  that  he  generally  follows  you  as  soon  as  you  go 
out." 

"Well,"  replied  I,  "we  must  find  out  what  he  wants — 
if  we  can.  Point  him  out  to  me  j  I  will  soon  see  if  he  is 
tracing  my  steps." 

Timothy  pointed  him  out  to  me  after  breakfast ;  I  could 
not  recollect  the  face,  and  yet  it  appeared  that  I  had  seen 
it  before.  I  went  out,  and  after  passing  half  a  dozen 
streets,  I  turned  round  and  perceived  that  the  man  was 
dodging  me.  I  took  no  notice,  but  being  resolved  to  try 
him  again,  I  walked  to  the  White  Horse  Cellar,  and  took 
a  seat  inside  a  Brentford  coach  about  to  start.  On  my 
arrival  at  Brentford  I  got  out,  and  perceived  that  the  man 
was  on  the  roof.  Of  a  sudden  it  flashed  on  my  memory — 
it  was  the  gipsy  who  had  come  to  the  camp  with  the 
communication  to  Melchior,  which  induced  him  to  quit  it. 
I  recollected  him — and  his  kneeling  down  by  the  stream 
and  washing  his  face.  The  mystery  was  solved — Melchior 
had  employed  him  to  find  out  the  residence  of  Fleta.  In 
all  probability  they  had  applied  to  the  false  address  given 
by  Timothy,  and  in  consequence  were  trying,  by  watching 
my  motions,  to  find  out  the  true  one.  "  You  shall  be 
deceived,  at  all  events,"  thought  I,  as  I  walked  on  through 
Brentford  until  I  came  to  a  ladies'  seminary.  I  rang  the 
bell,  and  was  admitted,  stating  my  wish  to  know  the  terms 


Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father  201 

of  the  school  for  a  young  lady,  and  contrived  to  make  as 
long  a  stay  as  I  could,  promising  to  call  again,  if  the 
relatives  of  the  young  lady  were  as  satisfied  as  I  professed 
to  be.  On  my  quitting  the  house,  I  perceived  that  my 
gipsy  attendant  was  not  far  off.  I  took  the  first  stage 
back,  and  returned  to  my  lodgings.  When  I  had  told  all 
that  had  occurred  to  Timothy,  he  replied,  **I  think,  sir, 
that  if  you  could  replace  me  for  a  week  or  two,  I  could 
now  be  of  great  service.  He  does  not  know  me,  and  if  I 
were  to  darken  my  face,  and  put  on  a  proper  dress,  I  think 
I  should  have  no  difficulty  in  passing  myself  off  as  one  of 
the  tribe,  knowing  their  slang,  and  having  been  so  much 
with  them." 

"  But  what  good  do  you  anticipate,  Timothy  ?" 
"My  object  is  to  find  out  where  he  puts  up,  and  to 
take  the  same  quarters — make  his  acquaintance,  and  find 
out  who  Melchior  is,  and  where  he  lives.     My  knowledge 
of  him  and  Nattee  may  perhaps  assist  me." 

"  You  must   be  careful  then,   Timothy ;   for  he   may 
know  sufficient  of  our  history  to  suspect  you." 
"  Let  me  alone,  sir.     Do  you  like  my  proposal  ?  ^ 
"  Yes,  I   do  5  you   may  commence   your   arrangements 
immediately." 


Chapter  XXXIX 

I  set  off  on  a  wild  goose  chase— and  fall  in  with  an  old  friend. 

The  next  morning  Timothy  had  procured  me  another  valet, 
and  throwing  off  his  liveries,  made  his  appearance  in  the 
evening,  sending  up  to  say  a  man  wished  to  speak  to  me. 
He  was  dressed  in  highlow  boots,  worsted  stockings,  greasy 
leather  small  clothes,  a  shag  waistcoat,  and  a  blue  frock 
overall.  His  face  was  stained  of  a  dark  olive,  and  when  he 
was  ushered  in,  Harcourt,  who  was  sitting  at  table  with  me, 
had  not  the  slightest  recognition  of  him.  As  Harcourt 
knew  all  my  secrets,  I  had  confided  this ;  I  had  not  told 


202  Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father 

him  what  Timothy's  intentions  were,  as  I  wished  to 
ascertain  whether  his  disguise  was  complete.  I  had 
merely  said  I  had  given  Timothy  leave  for  a  few  days. 

**  Perhaps  you  may  wish  me  away  for  a  short  time,"  said 
Harcourt,  looking  at  Tim. 

"  Not  at  all,  my  dear  Harcourt,  why  should  I .?  There's 
nobody  here  but  you  and  Timothy." 

"  Timothy  !  excellent — upon  my  word,  I  never  should 
have  known  him." 

"  He  is  going  forth  on  his  adventures." 

**  And  if  you  please,  sir,  I  will  lose  no  time.  It  is  now 
dark,  and  I  know  where  the  gipsy  hangs  out." 

**  Success  attend  you  then ;  but  be  careful,  Tim.  You 
had  better  write  to  me,  instead  of  calling." 

"I  had  the  same  idea;  and  now  I  wish  you  a  good 
evening." 

When  Timothy  quitted  the  room,  I  explained  our  inten- 
tions to  Harcourt.  **  Yours  is  a  strange  adventurous  sort 
of  life,  Newland ;  you  are  constantly  plotted  against,  and 
plotting  in  your  turn — mines  and  counter-mines.  I  have  an 
idea  that  you  will  turn  out  some  grand  personage  after  all ; 
for  if  not,  why  should  there  be  all  this  trouble  about 
you?" 

"  The  trouble,  in  the  present  case,  is  all  about  Fleta ; 
who  must,  by  your  argument,  turn  out  some  grand 
personage." 

**  Well,  perhaps  she  may.  I  should  like  to  see  that  little 
girl,  Newland." 

"  That  cannot  be  just  now,  for  reasons  you  well  know ; 
but  some  other  time  it  will  give  me  great  pleasure." 

On  the  second  day  after  Tim's  departure,  I  received  a 
letter  from  him  by  the  twopenny  post.  He  had  made  the 
acquaintance  of  the  gipsy,  but  had  not  extracted  any 
information,  being  as  yet  afraid  to  venture  any  questions. 
He  further  stated  that  his  new  companion  had  no  objection 
to  a  glass  or  two,  and  that  he  had  no  doubt  but  that  if  he 
could  contrive  to  make  him  tipsy,  in  a  few  days  he  would 
have  some  important  intelligence  to  communicate.     I  was  in 


Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father  203 

a  state  of  great  mental  agitation  during  this  time.  I  went 
to  Mr  Masterton,  and  narrated  to  him  all  that  had  passed. 
He  was  surprised  and  amused,  and  desired  me  not  to  fail 
to  let  him  have  the  earliest  intelligence  of  what  came  to 
light.  He  had  not  received  any  answer  as  yet  from  his 
agent  in  Dublin. 

It  was  not  until  eight  days  afterwards  that  I  received 
further  communication  from  Timothy ;  and  I  was  in  a  state 
of  great  impatience,  combined  with  anxiety,  lest  any  accident 
should  have  happened.  His  communication  was  important. 
He  was  on  the  most  intimate  footing  with  the  man,  who  had 
proposed  that  he  should  assist  him  to  carry  off  a  little  girl, 
who  was  at  a  school  at  Brentford.  They  had  been  consult- 
ing how  this  should  be  done,  and  Timothy  had  proposed 
forging  a  letter,  desiring  her  to  come  up  to  town,  and  his 
carrying  it  as  a  livery  servant.  The  man  had  also  other 
plans,  one  of  which  was  to  obtain  an  entrance  into  the 
house  by  making  acquaintance  with  the  servants ;  another, 
by  calling  to  his  aid  some  of  the  women  of  his  fraternity 
to  tell  fortunes :  nothing  was  as  yet  decided,  but  that  he 
was  resolved  to  obtain  possession  of  the  little  girl,  even  if 
he  were  obliged  to  resort  to  force.  In  either  case  Timothy 
was  engaged  to  assist. 

When  I  read  this,  I  more  than  congratulated  myself  upon 
the  man's  being  on  the  wrong  scent,  and  that  Timothy  had 
hit  upon  his  scheme.  Timothy  continued : — that  they  had 
indulged  in  very  deep  potations  last  night,  and  that  the 
man  had  not  scrupled  to  say  that  he  was  employed  by  a 
person  of  large  fortune,  who  paid  well,  and  whom  it  might 
not  be  advisable  to  refuse,  as  he  had  great  power.  After 
some  difficulty,  he  asked  Timothy  if  he  had  ever  heard  the 
name  of  Melchior  in  his  tribe.  Timothy  replied  that  he  had, 
and  that  at  the  gathering  he  had  seen  him  and  his  wife. 
Timothy  at  one  time  thought  that  the  man  was  about  to 
reveal  everything,  but  of  a  sudden  he  stopped  short,  and 
gave  evasive  answers.  To  a  question  put  by  Timothy,  as  to 
where  they  were  to  take  the  child  if  they  obtained 
possession  of  her,  the  man  had  replied,  that  she  would  go 


204  Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father 

over  the  water.  Such  were  the  contents  of  the  letter,  and 
I  eagerly  awaited  a  further  communication. 

The  next  day  I  called  at  Long's  Hotel  upon  a  gentleman 
with  whom  I  was  upon  intimate  terms.  After  remaining 
a  short  time  with  him,  I  was  leaving  the  hotel,  when  I  was 
attracted  by  some  trunks  in  the  entrance  hall.  I  started 
when  I  read  the  address  of — "  A.  De  Benyon,  Esq.,  to  be 

left  at  F 1  Hotel,  Dublin."     I  asked  the  waiter  who 

was  by,  whether  Mr  De  Benyon  had  left  the  hotel.  He 
replied  that  he  had  left  it  in  his  own  carriage  that  morning, 
and  having  more  luggage  than  he  could  take  with  him, 
had  desired  these  trunks  to  be  forwarded  by  the  coach. 
I  had  by  that  time  resumed  my  serenity.  I  took  out  a 
memorandum-book,  wrote  down  the  address  on  the  trunks, 
saying  that  I  was  sorry  not  to  have  seen  Mr  De  Benyon, 
and  that  I  would  write  to  him. 

But  if  I  composed  myself  before  the  waiter,  how  did  my 
heart  throb  as  I  hastily  passed  through  Bond  Street  to  my 
home  !  I  had  made  up  my  mind,  upon  what  very  slight 
grounds  the  reader  must  be  aware,  that  this  Mr  de  Benyon 
either  must  be  my  father,  or,  if  not,  was  able  to  tell  me 
who  was.  Had  not  Mr  Masterton  said  that  there  was  a 
clue — had  he  not  written  to  Dublin  ?  The  case  was  to  my 
excited  imagination  as  clear  as  the  noon-day,  and  before 
I  arrived  at  home,  I  had  made  up  my  mind  in  what  manner 
I  should  proceed.  It  was  then  about  four  o'clock.  I 
hastily  packed  up  my  portmanteau — took  with  me  all  my 
ready  money,  about  sixty  pounds,  and  sent  the  servant  to 
secure  a  place  in  the  mail  to  Holyhead.  He  returned, 
stating  that  there  was  a  seat  taken  for  me.  I  waited  till 
half-past  five  to  see  Harcourt,  but  he  did  not  come  home. 
I  then  wrote  him  a  short  note,  telling  him  where  I  was 
going,  and  promising  to  write  as  soon  as  I  arrived. 

"  Ireland  is  to  be  the  ground  of  my  future  adventures, 
my  dear  Harcourt.  Call  upon  Mr  Masterton,  and  tell  him 
what  I  have  done,  which  he  surely  will  approve.  Open 
Timothy's  letters,  and  let  me  have  their  contents.     I  leave 


Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father  205 

you  to  arrange  and  act  for  me  in  every  respect  until  I 
return.     In  the  meantime  believe  me, 

**  Ever  yours, 

"J.  Newland." 

I  gave  the  letter  to  the  valet,  and  calling  a  coach  drove 
to  the  office,  and  in  less  than  five  minutes  afterwards  was 
rolling  away  to  Holyhead,  felicitating  mysejf  upon  my 
promptitude  and  decision,  little  imagining  to  what  the  step 
I  had  taken  was  to  lead. 

It  was  a  very  dark  night  in  November  when  I  started  on 
my  expedition.  There  were  three  other  passengers  in  the 
mail,  none  of  whom  had  yet  spoken  a  word,  although  we 
had  made  several  miles  of  our  journey.  Muffled  up  in  my 
cloak,  I  indulged  in  my  own  reveries  as  usual,  building  up 
castles  which  toppled  over  one  after  another  as  I  built  and 
rebuilt  again.  At  last  one  of  the  passengers  blew  his  nose, 
as  if  to  give  warning  that  he  was  about  to  speak ;  and  then 
inquired  of  the  gentleman  next  him  if  he  had  seen  the 
evening  newspapers.  The  other  replied  in  the  negative. 
"  It  would  appear  that  Ireland  is  not  in  a  very  quiet  state, 
sir,"  observed  the  first. 

"  Did  you  ever  read  the  history  of  Ireland  ?  *'  inquired 
the  other. 

**  Not  very  particularly." 

"  Then,  sir,  if  you  were  to  take  that  trouble,  you  will 
find  that  Ireland,  since  it  was  first  peopled,  never  has  been 
in  a  quiet  state,  nor  perhaps  ever  will.  It  is  a  species  of 
human  volcano — always  either  smoking,  burning,  or  break- 
ing out  into  eruptions  and  fire." 

"Very  true,  sir,"  replied  the  other.  "I  am  told  the 
White  Boys  are  mustering  in  large  numbers,  and  that  some 
of  the  districts  are  quite  impassable." 

**  Sir,  if  you  had  travelled  much  in  Ireland,  you  would 
have  found  out  that  many  of  the  districts  are  quite 
impassable,  without  the  impediment  of  the  White  Boys." 

"  You  have  been  a  great  deal  in  Ireland  then,  sir," 
replied  the  other. 


2o6  Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father 


<< 


"  Yes,   sir,"   said  the  other  with  a  consequential  dr, 
I  believe  I  may  venture  to  say  that  I  am  in  charge  of 
some  of  the  most  considerable  properties  in  Ireland." 

"  Lawyer — agent — five  per  cent. — and  so  on,"  muttered 
the  third  party,  who  sate  by  me,  and  had  not  yet  spoken. 

There  was  no  mistaking  him — it  was  my  former  master, 
Mr  Cophagus  ;  and  I  cannot  say  that  I  was  very  well  pleased 
at  this  intimation  of  his  presence,  as  I  took  it  for  granted  that 
he  would  recognise  me  as  soon  as  it  was  daylight.  The 
conversation  continued,  without  any  remarks  being  made 
upon  this  interruption  on  the  part  of  Mr  Cophagus.  The 
agent,  it  appeared,  had  been  called  to  London  on  business, 
and  was  returning.  The  other  was  a  professor  of  music 
bound  to  Dublin  on  speculation.  What  called  Mr  Co- 
phagus in  that  direction  I  could  not  comprehend ;  but  I 
thought  I  would  try  and  find  out.  I  therefore,  while  the 
two  others  were  engaged  in  conversation,  addressed  him 
in  a  low  tone  of  voice.  "  Can  you  tell  me,  sir,  if  the 
College  at  Dublin  is  considered  good  for  the  instruction  of 
surgical  pupils  ?  " 

"  Country  good,  at  all  events  plenty  of  practice — broken 
heads — and  so  on." 

"  Have  you  ever  been  in  Ireland,  sir  ?  " 

"  Ireland  ! — never— don't  wish  to  go — must  go — old 
women  will  die — executor — botheration — and  so  on." 

"  I  hope  she  has  left  you  a  good  legacy,  sir,"  replied  I. 

"  Legacy — humph — can't  tell — silver  tea-pot — suit  of 
black,  and  so  on.  Long  journey — won't  pay — can't  be 
helped — old  women  always  troublesome  alive  or  dead — 
bury  her,  come  back — and  so  on." 


Chapter  XL 

I  deny  my  master. 

Although  Mr  Cophagus  was  very  communicative  in  his 
own  way,  he  had  no  curiosity  with  regard  to  others,  and 


Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father  207 

the  conversation  dropped.  The  other  two  had  also  asked 
all  the  questions  which  they  wished,  and  we  all,  as  if  by 
one  agreement,  fell  back  in  our  seats,  and  shut  our  eyes, 
to  court  sleep.  I  was  the  only  one  who  wooed  it  in  vain. 
Day  broke,  my  companions  were  all  in  repose,  and  I  dis- 
continued my  reveries,  and  examined  their  physiognomies. 
Mr  Cophagus  was  the  first  to  whom  I  directed  my  atten- 
tion. He  was  much  the  same  in  face  as  when  I  had  left 
him,  but  considerably  thinner  in  person.  His  head  was 
covered  with  a  white  night-cap,  and  he  snored  with 
emphasis.  The  professor  of  music  was  a  very  small 
man,  with  mustachios  j  his  mouth  was  wide  open,  and 
one  would  have  thought  that  he  was  in  the  full  execution 
of  a  bravura.  The  third  person,  who  had  stated  himself 
to  be  an  agent,  was  a  heavy,  full-faced,  coarse-looking 
personage,  with  his  hat  over  his  eyes,  and  his  head  bent 
down  on  his  chest,  and  I  observed  that  he  had  a  small 
packet  in  one  of  his  hands,  with  his  forefinger  twisted 
through  the  string.  I  should  not  have  taken  further 
notice,  had  not  the  name  of  T,  Iving^  in  the  corner  of 
the  side  on  which  was  the  direction,  attracted  my  atten- 
tion. It  was  the  name  of  Melchior's  London  correspon- 
dent, who  had  attempted  to  bribe  Timothy.  This 
induced  me  to  look  down  and  read  the  direction  of  the 
packet,  and  I  clearly  deciphered,  Sir  Henry  De  Clare, 
Bart.,  Mount  Castle,  Connemara.  I  took  out  my  tablets, 
and  wrote  down  the  address.  I  certainly  had  no  reason 
for  so  doing,  except  that  nothing  should  be  neglected,  as 
there  was  no  saying  what  might  turn  out.  I  had  hardly 
replaced  my  tablets  when  the  party  awoke,  made  a  sort 
of  snatch  at  the  packet,  as  if  recollecting  it,  and  wishing 
to  ascertain  if  it  were  safe,  looked  at  it,  took  off  his  hat, 
let  down  the  window,  and  then  looked  round  upon  the 
other  parties. 

"  Fine  morning,  sir,"  said  he  to  me,  perceiving  that 
I  was  the  only  person  awake. 

"  Very,"  replied  I,  "  very  fine ;  but  I  had  rather  be 
walking  over  the  mountains  of  Connemara,  than  be  shut 
up  in  this  close  and  confined  conveyance." 


2o8  Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father 

"  Hah  !  you  know  Connemara,  then  ?  Fm  going  there ; 
perhaps  you  are  also  bound  to  that  part  of  the  country  ? 
but  you  are  not  Irish." 

"  I  was  not  born  or  bred  in  Ireland,  certainly,"  replied  I. 

"So  I  should  say.  Irish  blood  in  your  veins,  I 
presume." 

"I  believe  such  to  be  the  case,"  replied  I,  with  a 
smile,  implying  certainty. 

"  Do  you  know  Sir  Henry  de  Clare  ? " 

"  Sir  Henry  de  Clare — of  Mount  Castle — is  he  not  ? " 

"  The  same ;  I  am  going  over  to  him.  I  am  agent  for 
his  estates,  among  others.  A  very  remarkable  man. 
Have  you  ever  seen  his  wife  ?  " 

"I  really  cannot  tell,"  replied  I;  "let  me  call  to  mind." 

I  had  somehow  or  another  formed  an  idea,  that  Sir 
Henry  de  Clare  and  Melchior  might  be  one  and  the 
same  person ;  nothing  was  too  absurd  or  improbable  for 
my  imagination,  and  I  had  now  means  of  bringing  home 
my  suspicions.  "  I  think,"  continued  I,  "I  recollect 
her — that  is,  she  is  a  very  tall,  handsome  woman,  dark 
eyes  and  complexion." 

"  The  very  same,"  replied  he. 

My  heart  bounded  at  the  information ;  it  certainly  was 
not  any  clue  to  my  own  parentage,  but  it  was  an  object 
of  my  solicitude,  and  connected  with  the  welfare  of  Fleta. 
"  If  I  recollect  right,"  observed  I,  "  there  are  some 
curious  passages  in  the  life  of  Sir  Henry  ?  " 

"  Nothing  very  particular,"  observed  the  agent,  looking 
out  of  the  window. 

"  I  thought  that  he  had  disappeared  for  some  time." 

"  Disappeared !  he  certainly  did  not  live  in  Ireland, 
because  he  had  quarrelled  with  his  brother.  He  lived 
in  England  until  his  brother's  death." 

"  How  did  his  brother  die,  sir  ? " 

"  Killed  by  a  fall  when  hunting,"  replied  the  agent. 
"  He  was  attempting  to  clear  a  stone  wall,  the  horse  fell 
back  on  him,  and  dislocated  his  spine.  I  was  on  the  spot 
when  the  accident  happened." 


Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father  209 

I  recollected  the  imperfect  communication  of  Fleta,  who 
had  heard  the  gipsy  say  that  "he  was  dead;"  and  also 
the  word  horse  made  use  of,  and  I  now  felt  convinced 
that  I  had  found  out  Melchior.  "  Sir  Henry,  if  I  recollect 
right,  has  no  family,"  observed  I. 

'*No;  and  I  am  afraid  there  is  but  little  chance." 

**  Had  the  late  baronet,  his  elder  brother,  any  family  ? " 

"What,  Sir  William?  No;  or  Sir  Henry  would  not 
have  come  into  the  title." 

"  He  might  have  had  daughters,"  replied  I. 

"  Very  true ;  now  I  think  of  it,  there  was  a  girl,  who 
died  when  young." 

"  Is  the  widow  of  Sir  William  alive  ? " 

"  Yes ;  and  a  very  fine  woman  she  is ;  but  she  has  left 
Ireland  since  her  husband's  death." 

I  did  not  venture  to  ask  any  more  questions.  Our 
conversation  had  roused  Mr  Cophagus  and  the  other 
passenger ;  and  as  I  had  reflected  how  I  should  behave  in 
case  of  recognition,  I  wished  to  be  prepared  for  him. 
"  You  have  had  a  good  nap,  sir,"  said  I,  turning  to  him. 

"Nap — yes — coach  nap,  bad — head  sore — and  so  on. 
Why — bless  me — Japhet — Japhet  New — yes — it  is." 

"  Do  you  speak  to  me,  sir  ?  "  inquired  I,  with  a  quiet 
air. 

"  Speak  to  you — yes — bad  memory — hip  !  quite  forgot 
— old  master — shop  in  Smithfield — mad  bull — and  so  on." 

"  Really,  sir,"  replied  I,  "  I  am  afraid  you  mistake  me 
for  some  other  person." 

Mr  Cophagus  looked  very  hard  at  me,  and  perceiving 
that  there  was  no  alteration  in  my  countenance,  exclaimed, 
"Very  odd — same  nose — same  face — same  age  too — very 
odd — like  as  two  pills — beg  pardon — made  a  mistake — 
and  so  on." 

Satisfied  with  the  discomfiture  of  Mr  Cophagus,  I 
turned  round,  when  I  perceived  the  Irish  agent,  with 
whom  I  had  been  in  conversation,  eyeing  me  most  atten- 
tively. As  I  said  before,  he  was  a  hard-featured  man, 
and  his  small  grey  eye  was  now  fixed  upon  me,  as  if  it 

F  O 


2IO  Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father 

would  have  pierced  me  through.  I  felt  confused  for  a 
moment,  as  the  scrutiny  was  unexpected  from  that 
quarter ;  but  a  few  moments'  reflection  told  me,  that  if 
Sir  Henry  de  Clare  and  Melchior  were  the  same  person, 
and  this  man  his  agent,  in  all  probability  he  had  not  been 
sent  to  England  for  nothing ;  that  if  he  was  in  search  of 
Fleta,  he  must  have  heard  of  my  name,  and  perhaps  some- 
thing of  my  history.  "  I  appear  to  have  a  great  likeness 
to  many  people,"  observed  I,  to  the  agent,  smiling.  "  It 
was  but  the  other  day  I  was  stopped  in  Bond  Street  as  a 
Mr  Rawlinson  " 

"Not  a  very  common  face  either,  sir,"  observed  the 
agent ;  "  if  once  seen  not  easily  forgotten,  nor  easily 
mistaken  for  another." 

**  Still  such  appears  to  be  the  case,"  replied  I,  carelessly. 

We  now  stopped  to  take  refreshment.  I  had  risen  from 
the  table,  and  was  going  into  the  passage,  when  I  perceived 
the  agent  looking  over  the  way-bill  with  the  guard.  As 
soon  as  he  perceived  me,  he  walked  out  in  front  of  the 
inn.  Before  the  guard  had  put  up  the  bill,  I  requested  to 
look  at  it,  wishing  to  ascertain  if  I  had  been  booked  in  my 
own  name.  It  was  so.  The  four  names  were,  Newland, 
Cophagus,  Baltzi,  M^Dermott.  I  was  much  annoyed  at 
this  circumstance.  M*Dermott  was,  of  course,  the  name 
of  the  agent ;  and  that  was  all  the  information  I  received 
in  return  for  my  own  exposure,  which  I  now  considered 
certain ;  I  determined,  however,  to  put  a  good  face  on  the 
matter,  and  when  we  returned  to  the  coach,  again  entered 
into  conversation  with  Mr  M'Dermott,  but  I  found  him 
particularly  guarded  in  his  replies  whenever  I  spoke  about 
Sir  Henry  or  his  family,  and  I  could  not  obtain  any  further 
information.  Mr  Cophagus  could  not  keep  his  eyes  off  me 
— he  peered  into  my  face — then  he  would  fall  back  in  the 
coach.  **  Odd — very  odd — must  be — no — says  not — um." 
In  about  another  half  hour,  he  would  repeat  his  examina- 
tion, and  mutter  to  himself.  At  last,  as  if  tormented  with 
his  doubts,  he  exclaimed,  "  Beg  pardon — but — you  have  a 
name  ? " 


Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father  2 1 1 

'^  Yes,"  replied  I,  "  I  have  a  name." 

"  Well,  then — not  ashamed.     What  is  it  ? " 

"  My  name,  sir,"  replied  I,  "is  Newland ; "  for  I  had 

resolved  to  acknowledge  to  my  name,  and  fall  back  upon 

a  new  line  of  defence. 

'^Thought  so — don't  know  me — don't  recollect  shop — 

Mr  Brookes's — Tim — rudiments — and  so  on." 

"  I  have  not  the  least  objection  to  tell  you  my  name ; 

but  I  am  afraid  you  have  the  advantage  in  your  recollection 

of  me.     Where  may  I  have  had  the  honour  of  meeting 

you?" 

"Meeting — what,  quite  forgot — Smithfield  ?" 

"  And  pray,  sir,  where  may  Smithfield  be  ?" 

"  Very  odd — can't  comprehend — same  name,  same  tace 

— don't  recollect  me,  don't  recollect  Smithfield  ? " 

"  It  may  be  very  odd,  sir ;  but,  as  I  am  very  well  known 

in  London,  at  the  west  end,  perhaps  we  have  met  there. 

Lord  Windermear's  perhaps — Lady  Maelstrom's  ? " — and  I 

continued  mentioning  about  a  dozen  of  the  most  fashionable 

names.     *'  At  all  events,  you  appear  to  have  the  advantage 

of  me ;  but  I  trust  you  will  excuse  my  want  of  memory, 

as  my  acquaintance  is  very  extensive." 

"  I  see — quite  a  mistake — same  name,  not  same  person 

— beg   pardon,   sir — apologies  —  and  so  on,"  replied  the 

apothecary,  drawing  in  a  long  sigh. 


Chapter  XLI 

I  turn  lawyer. 

I  WATCHED  the  countenance  of  the  agent,  who  appeared  at 
last  to  be  satisfied  that  there  had  been  some  mistake ;  at 
least  he  became  more  communicative,  and  as  I  no  longer 
put  any  questions  to  him  relative  to  Sir  Henry,  we  had  a 
long  conversation.  I  spoke  to  him  about  the  De  Benyons, 
making  every  inquiry  that  I  could  think  of.  He  informed 
me  that  the  deceased  earl,  the  father  of  the  present,  had 


212  Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father 

many  sons,  who  were  some  of  them  married,  and  that  the 
family  was  extensive.  He  appeared  to  know  them  all,  the 
professions  which  they  had  been  brought  up  to,  and  their 
careers  in  life.  I  treasured  up  his  information,  and,  as  soon 
as  I  had  an  opportunity,  wrote  down  all  which  he  had  told 
me.  On  our  arrival  at  Holyhead,  the  weather  was  very 
boisterous,  and  the  packet  was  to  depart  immediately.  Mr 
M'Dermott  stated  his  intentions  to  go  over,  but  Mr 
Cophagus  and  the  professor  declined,  and,  anxious  as  I  was 
to  proceed,  I  did  not  wish  to  be  any  longer  in  company 
with  the  agent,  and,  therefore,  also  declined  going  on 
board.  Mr  M*Dermott  called  for  a  glass  of  brandy  and 
water,  drank  it  off  in  haste,  and  then,  followed  by  the 
porter,  with  his  luggage,  went  down  to  embark. 

As  soon  as  he  was  gone,  I  burst  into  a  fit  of  laughter. 
"  Well,  Mr  Cophagus,  acknowledge  that  it  is  possible  to 
persuade  a  man  out  of  his  senses.  You  knew  me,  and  you 
were  perfectly  right  in  asserting  that  I  was  Japhet,  yet  did 
I  persuade  you  at  last  that  you  were  mistaken.  But  I  will 
explain  to  you  why  I  did  so." 

"  All  right,"  said  the  apothecary,  taking  my  proffered 
hand,  "  thought  so — no  mistake — handsome  fellow — so  you 
are — Japhet  Newland — my  apprentice — and  so  on." 

"  Yes,  sir,"  replied  I,  laughing,  "  I  am  Japhet  Newland." 
(I  turned  round,  hearing  a  noise,  the  door  had  been  opened, 
and  Mr  M*Dermott  had  just  stepped  in ;  he  had  returned 
for  an  umbrella,  which  he  had  forgotten ;  he  looked  at  me, 
at  Mr  Cophagus,  who  still  held  my  hand  in  his,  turned 
short  round,  said  nothing,  and  walked  out.)  "  This  is 
unfortunate,"  observed  I,  "  my  reason  for  not  avowing 
myself,  was  to  deceive  that  very  person,  and  now  I  have 
made  the  avowal  to  his  face ;  however,  it  cannot  be  helped." 

I  sat  down  with  my  old  master,  and  as  I  knew  that  I 
could  confide  in  him,  gave  him  an  outline  of  my  life,  and 
stated  my  present  intentions. 

"  I  see,  Japhet,  I  see — done  mischief — sorry  for  it — 
can't  be  help'd — do  all  I  can — um — what's  to  be  done  ? — be 
your  friend — always  like  you — help  all  I  can — and  so  on." 


Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father  213 

"  But  what  would  you  advise,  sir  ? '' 

"  Advice — bad  as  physic — nobody  takes  it — Ireland — 
wild  place — no  law — better  go  back — leave  all  to  me — find 
out — and  so  on." 

This  advice  I  certainly  could  not  consent  to  follow. 

We  argued  the  matter  over  for  some  time,  and  then  it 
was  agreed  that  we  should  proceed  together.  I  was  in- 
formed by  Mr  Cophagus  that  he  had  retired  with  a  very 
handsome  fortune,  and  was  living  in  the  country,  about  ten 
miles  from  the  metropolis ;  that  he  had  been  summoned  to 
attend  the  funeral  of  a  maiden  aunt  in  Dublin,  who  had 
left  him  executor  and  residuary  legatee,  but  that  he  knew 
nothing  of  her  circumstances.  He  was  still  a  bachelor,  and 
amused  himself  in  giving  advice  and  medicines  gratis  to  the 
poor  people  of  the  village  in  which  he  resided,  there  being 
no  resident  practitioner  within  some  distance.  He  liked 
the  country  very  much,  but  there  was  one  objection  to  it — 
the  cattle.  He  had  not  forgotten  the  mad  hull.  At  a  very 
late  hour  we  retired  to  our  beds :  the  next  morning  the 
weather  had  moderated,  and,  on  the  arrival  of  the  mail  we 
embarked,  and  had  a  very  good  passage  over.     On  my 

arrival  at  Dublin  I  directed  my  steps  to  the  F —  Hotel, 

as  the  best  place  to  make  inquiries  relative  to  Mr  De 
Benyon.  Mr  Cophagus  also  put  up  at  the  same  hotel,  and 
we  agreed  to  share  a  sitting-room. 

**  Waiter,"  said  I,  "do  you  know  a  Mr  De  Benyon  ?" 

"  Yes,  sir,"  replied  he ;  "  there  is  one  of  the  De  Benyons 
at  the  hotel  at  this  moment." 

"  Is  he  a  married  man  ?  " 

"  Yes — with  a  large  family." 

*'  What  is  his  Christian  name  ?  " 

"I  really  cannot  tell,  sir  j  but  Til  find  out  for  you  by 
to-morrow  morning." 

"  When  does  he  leave  ? " 

"  To-morrow,  I  believe." 

"  Do  you  know  where  he  goes  }  " 

"  Yes,  sir,  to  his  own  seat." 

The  waiter  left  the  room.     "Won't  do,  Japhet,"  said 


214  Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father 

Cophagus.     "  Large  family — don't  want  more — hard  times, 
and  so  on," 

"No,"  replied  I,  "it  does  not  exactly  answer;  but  I 
may  from  him  obtain  further  intelligence." 

"Won't  do,  Japhet — try  another  way — ^large  family — 
want  all  uncle's  money — um — never  tell — good  night." 

This  remark  of  Mr  Cophagus  gave  me  an  idea,  upon 
which  I  proceeded  the  next  morning.  I  sent  in  my  card, 
requesting  the  honour  of  speaking  to  Mr  De  Benyon,  stating 
that  I  had  come  over  to  Ireland  on  business  of  importance, 
but  that,  as  I  must  be  back  if  possible  by  term  time,  it 
would  perhaps  save  much  expense  and  trouble.  The 
waiter  took  in  the  message.  "  Back  by  term  time — it 
must  be  some  legal  gentleman.  Show  him  up,"  said  Mr 
De  Benyon. 

I  walked  in  with  a  business-like  air.  "  Mr  De  Benyon, 
I  believe  ? " 

"  Yes,  sir ;  will  you  do  me  the  favour  to  take  a 
chair  ? " 

I  seated  myself,  and  drew  out  my  memorandum-book. 
"  My  object,  Mr  De  Benyon,  in  troubling  you,  is  to  as- 
certain a  few  particulars  relative  to  your  family,  which  we 
cannot  so  easily  find  out  in  England.  There  is  a  property 
which  it  is  supposed  may  be  claimed  by  one  of  the  De 
Benyons,  but  which  we  cannot  ascertain  until  we  have  a 
little  search  into  the  genealogical  tree." 

"  Is  the  property  large  ?"  inquired  Mr  De  Benyon. 
"  Not  very  large,"  replied  I ;  "  but  still  a  very  handsome 
property,  I  am  told."  The  reader  may  surmise  that  the 
property  referred  to  was  my  own  pretty  self.  "  May 
I  ask  you  a  few  particulars  relative  to  the  present  earl  and 
his  brothers  ? " 

"  Most  certainly,  sir,"  replied  Mr  De  Benyon ;    "  any 
information  I  can  give  you  will  be  at  your  service.     The 
Earl  has  four  brothers.     The  eldest  Maurice." 
"Is  he  married  .''  " 

"  Yes,  and  has  two  children.     The  next  is  William." 
"Is  he  married  ?  " 


Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father  215 

"  No ;  nor  has  he  ever  been.  He  is  a  general  in  the 
army.     The  third  is  myself,  Henry." 

"  You  are  married,  I  believe,  sir  ?" 

"  Yes,  with  a  large  family." 

**  May  I  request  you  will  proceed,  sir  ? " 

"  Arthur  is  the  fourth  brother.  He  is  lately  married, 
and  has  two  children." 

"  Sir,  I  feel  much  obliged  to  you ;  it  is  a  curious  and 
intricate  affair.  As  I  am  here,  I  may  as  well  ask  one 
question,  although  not  of  great  consequence.  The  earl 
is  married,  I  perceive,  by  the  peerage,  but  I  do  not  find 
that  he  has  any  children." 

"  On  the  contrary,  he  has  two — and  prospects  of  more. 
May  I  now  request  the  particulars  connected  with  this 
property  ?  " 

"  The  exact  particulars,  sir,  I  cannot  well  tell  you,  as  I 
am  not  acquainted  with  them  myself;  but  the  property  in 
question,  I  rather  think,  depends  upon  a  name.  May  I 
venture  to  ask  the  names  of  all  your  children  ?  " 

Mr  De  Benyon  gave  me  a  list  seriatim j  which  I  put  down 
with  great  gravity. 

"  Of  course,  there  is  no  doubt  of  your  second  brother 
not  being  married.  I  believe  we  ought  to  have  a  certificate. 
Do  you  know  his  address  ? " 

"  He  has  been  in  the  East  Indies  for  many  years.  He 
returned  home  on  furlough,  and  has  now  just  sailed  again 
for  Calcutta." 

"  That  is  unfortunate  ;  we  must  forward  a  letter  through 
the  India  Board.  May  I  also  be  favoured  with  your  address, 
as  in  all  probability  it  may  be  advisable  ? " 

Mr  De  Benyon  gave  me  his  address.  I  rose,  promised 
to  give  him  all  the  particulars  as  soon  as  they  were  known 
to  me,  bowed,  and  made  my  exit.  To  one  who  was  in  his 
sober  senses,  there  certainly  was  not  any  important  infor- 
mation gained  ;  but  to  me,  it  was  evident  that  the  Mr  De 
Benyon  who  was  a  general  in  the  army  was  to  be 
interrogated,  and  I  had  almost  made  up  my  mind  to  set  off 
for  Calcutta. 


2i6  Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father 


Chapter  XLII 

I  affront  an  Irish  gentleman,  and  make  a  handsome  apology,  which  is 
accepted. 

Before  I  had  gained  my  own  room,  I  informed  Mr 
Cophagus,  who  had  just  returned  from  a  visit  to  his 
maiden  aunt's  house,  of  what  had  passed. 

"  Can't  see  anything  in  it,  Japhet — wild  goose  chase — 
who  told  you  ? — oh  !  Pleggit's  men — sad  liars — De  Benyon 
not  name,  depend  upon  it — all  stuff,  and  so  on." 

And  when  I  reflected,  I  could  but  acknowledge  that  the 
worthy  apothecary  might  be  right,  and,  that  I  was  running 
after  shadows  ;  but  this  was  only  in  my  occasional  fits  of 
despondency.  I  soon  rallied,  and  was  as  sanguine  as  ever. 
Undecided  how  to  proceed,  and  annoyed  by  what  Co- 
phagus had  said,  I  quitted  the  hotel,  to  walk  out,  in  no  very 
good  humour.  As  I  went  out,  I  perceived  the  agent 
M*Dermott  speaking  to  the  people  in  the  bar,  and  the 
sight  of  him  reminded  me  of  what,  for  a  moment,  I  had 
forgotten,  which  was,  to  ascertain  whether  Melchior  and 
Sir  Henry  de  Clare  were  one  and  the  same  person.  As  I 
passed  a  crossing,  a  man  in  tattered  habiliments,  who  was 
sweeping  it,  asked  for  alms,  but  being  in  no  very  charitable 
humour,  I  walked  on.  He  followed  me,  pestering  me  so 
much,  that  I  gave  him  a  tap  with  the  cane  in  my  hand, 
saying  to  him,  **  Be  off,  you  scoundrel." 

"  Oh !  very  well.  Be  off,  is  it  you  mane  ?  By  the 
blood  of  the  O'Rourkes  but  you'll  answer  for  that  same, 
anyhow." 

I  passed  on,  and  having  perambulated  the  city  of  Dublin 
for  some  time,  returned  to  the  hotel.  A  few  minutes 
afterwards,  I  was  told  by  the  waiter  that  a  Mr  O'Donaghan 
wished  to  speak  to  me.  I  have  not  the  honour  of  his 
acquaintance,"  replied  I,  "  but  you  may  show  him  up." 

Mr  O'Donaghan  entered,  a  tall,  thick-whiskered  per- 
sonage, in  a  shabby-genteel  dress,  evidently  not  made  for 


Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father  217 

him,  a  pair  of  white  cotton  gloves,  and  a  small  stick.  "  I 
believe  that  I  have  the  honour  of  spaking  to  the  gentleman 
who  crossed  over  the  street  about  two  hours  ago  ? " 

"Upon  my  word,  sir,"  replied  I,  "  that  is  so  uncertain 
a  definition,  that  I  can  hardly  pretend  to  say  whether  I  am 
the  person  you  mean ;  indeed,  from  not  having  the  pleasure 
of  any  one's  acquaintance  in  Dublin,  I  rather  think  there 
must  be  some  mistake." 

"  The  devil  a  bit  of  a  mistake,  at  all  at  all ;  for  there's 
the  little  bit  of  a  cane  with  which  you  paid  my  friend, 
Mr  O'Rourke,  the  compliment  over  his  shoulders." 

"  I  really  am  quite  mystified,  sir,  and  do  not  understand 
you  5  will  you  favour  me  with  an  explanation  ?  " 

**  With  all  the  pleasure  in  life,  for  then  we  shall  come 
to  a  right  understanding.  You  were  crossing  the  street, 
and  a  gentleman,  a  particular  friend  of  mine,  with  a  broom 
which  he  carries  for  his  own  amusement,  did  himself  the 
honour  to  address  you,  whereupon  of  that  same  little  stick 
of  yours,  you  did  him  the  honour  to  give  him  a  slight 
taste." 

"What  do  you  mean?  do  you  refer  to  the  sweeper, 
who  was  so  importunate  when  I  crossed  over  the  road  ? " 

"  Then,  by  the  powers,  you've  just  hit  it,  as  you  did 
him.  That's  my  particular  friend,  Thaddeus  O'Rourke, 
gentleman." 

"  Gentleman  !  "  exclaimed  I. 

"  And  with  as  good  and  as  true  Milesian  blood  as  any 
in  Ireland.  If  you  think,  sir,  that  because  my  friend,  just 
for  his  own  amusement,  thinks  proper  to  put  on  the  worst 
of  his  clothes  and  carry  a  broom,  just  by  way  of  exercise, 
to  prevent  his  becoming  too  lusty,  he  is  therefore  to  be 
struck  like  a  hound,  it's  a  slight  mistake,  that's  all ;  and 
here,  sir,  is  his  card,  and  you  will  oblige  me  by  mentioning 
any  friend  of  yours  with  whom  I  may  settle  all  the  little 
points  necessary  before  the  meeting  of  two  gentlemen." 

I  could  hardly  refrain  from  laughing  at  this  Irish 
gentleman  and  his  friend,  but  I  thought  it  advisable  to 
retain  my   countenance.     "  My   dear   sir,"   replied  I,   "it 


2i8  Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father 

grieves  me  to  the  heart  that  I  should  have  committed  such 
an  error,  in  not  perceiving  the  gentility  of  your  friend ; 
had  I  not  been  so  careless,  I  certainly  should  have  requested 
him  to  do  me  the  honour  to  accept  a  shilling,  instead  of 
having  offered  him  the  insult.  I  hope  it  is  not  now  too 
late?" 

"By  the  powers,  Fm  not  one  of  those  harum-scarum 
sort,  who  would  make  up  a  fight  when  there's  no  occasion 
for  it,  and  as  your  'haviour  is  that  of  a  gentleman,  I  think 
it  will  perhaps  be  better  to  shake  hands  upon  it,  and  forget 
it  altogether.  Suppose,  now,  we'll  consider  that  it  was  all 
a  mistake  ?  You  give  the  shilling,  as  you  intended  to  do, 
I'll  swear,  only  you  were  in  so  great  a  hurry — and  then, 
perhaps,  you'll  not  object  to  throw  in  another  shilling  for 
that  same  tap  with  the  cane,  just  to  wipe  off  the  insult  as 
it  were,  as  we  do  our  sins,  when  we  fork  out  the  money, 
and  receive  absolution  from  the  padre ;  and  then,  perhaps, 
you  will  not  think  it  too  much  if  I  charge  another  shilling 
for  my  time  and  trouble,  for  carrying  a  message  between 
two  gentlemen." 

"  On  the  contrary,  Mr  O'Donaghan,  I  think  all  your 
demands  are  reasonable.     Here  is  the  money." 

Mr  O'Donaghan  took  the  three  shillings.  "  Then,  sir, 
and  many  thanks  to  you,  I'll  wish  you  a  good  evening,  and 
Mr  O'Rourke  shall  know  from  me  that  you  have  absolution 
for  the  whole,  and  that  you  have  offered  every  satisfaction 
which  one  gentleman  could  expect  from  another."  So 
saying,  Mr  O'Donaghan  put  his  hat  on  with  a  firm  cock, 
pulled  on  his  gloves,  manoeuvred  his  stick,  and,  with  a 
flourishing  bow,  took  his  departure. 

I  had  hardly  dismissed  this  gentleman,  and  was  laughing 
to  myself  at  the  ridiculous  occurrence,  when  Mr  Cophagus 
returned,  first  putting  his  cane  up  to  his  nose  with  an  arch 
look,  and  then  laying  it  down  on  the  table  and  rubbing 
his  hands.  "  Good — warm  old  lady.  No — dead  and  cold 
— but  left  some  thousands — only  one  legacy — old  Tom 
cat — physic  him  to-morrow — soon  die,  and  so  on." 

On  a  more  full  explanation,  I  found  that  the  old  lady 


Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father  219 

had  left  about  nine  thousand  pounds  in  the  funds  and  bank 
securities,  all  of  which,  with  the  exception  of  twenty- 
pounds  per  annum  to  a  favourite  cat,  was  left  to  Mr 
Cophagus.  I  congratulated  him  upon  this  accession  of 
fortune.  He  stated  that  the  lease  of  the  house  and  the 
furniture  were  still  to  be  disposed  of,  and  that  afterwards 
he  should  have  nothing  more  to  do ;  but  he  wished  me 
very  much  to  assist  him  in  rummaging  over  the  various 
cabinets  belonging  to  the  old  lady,  and  which  were  full 
of  secret  drawers ,  that  in  one  cabinet  alone  he  had  found 
upwards  of  fifty  pounds  in  various  gold  coins,  and  that  if 
not  well  examined,  they  would  probably  be  sold  with 
many  articles  of  consequence  remaining  in  them. 

As  my  only  object  in  Ireland  was  to  find  out  Sir  Henry 
de  Clare,  and  identify  him  (but,  really,  why  I  could  not 
have  said,  as  it  would  have  proved  nothing  after  all),  I 
willingly  consented  to  devote  a  day  to  assist  Mr  Cophagus 
in  his  examination.  The  next  morning  after  breakfast,  we 
went  together  to  the  house  of  the  old  lady,  whose  name 
had  been  Maitland,  as  Mr  Cophagus  informed  me.  Her 
furniture  was  of  the  most  ancient  description,  and  in  every 
room  in  the  house  there  was  an  ormolu,  or  Japan  cabinet ; 
some  of  them  were  very  handsome,  decorated  with  pillars, 
and  silver  ornaments.  I  can  hardly  recount  the  variety  of 
articles,  which  in  all  probability  had  been  amassed  during 
the  whole  of  the  old  lady's  life,  commencing  with  her 
years  of  childhood,  and  ending  with  the  day  of  her  death. 
There  were  antique  ornaments,  some  of  considerable  value, 
miniatures,  fans,  etuis,  notes,  of  which  the  ink,  from  time, 
had  turned  to  a  light  red,  packages  of  letters  of  her  various 
correspondents  in  her  days  of  hope  and  anticipation,  down 
to  those  of  solitude  and  age.  We  looked  over  some  of 
them,  but  they  appeared  to  both  of  us  to  be  sacred,  and 
they  were,  after  a  slight  examination,  committed  to  the 
flames. 

After  we  had  examined  all  the  apparent  receptacles  in 
these  cabinets,  we  took  them  up  between  us,  and  shook 
them,  and  in  most  cases  found  out  that  there  were  secret 


2  20  Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father 

drawers  containing  other  treasures.  There  was  one 
packet  of  letters  which  caught  my  eye,  it  was  from  a  Miss 
De  Benyon.  I  seized  it  immediately,  and  showed  the 
inscription  to  Mr  Cophagus.  "  Pooh — nothing  at  all — her 
mother  was  a  De  Benyon." 

"  Have  you  any  objection  to  my  looking  at  these 
letters  ?  " 

"  No — read — nothing  in  them." 

I  laid  them  on  one  side,  and  we  proceeded  in  our  search, 
when  Mr  Cophagus  took  up  a  sealed  packet.  "  Heh ! 
what's  this — De  Benyon  again  ?     Japhet,  look  here." 

I  took  the  packet;  it  was  sealed,  and  tied  with  red  tape. 
"  Papers  belonging  to  Lieutenant  William  De  Benyon,  to 
be  returned  to  him  at  my  decease."  "  Alice  Maitland, 
luith  great  care,"  was  written  at  the  bottom  of  the  envelope. 

"  This  is  it,  my  dear  sir,"  cried  I,  jumping  up  and 
embracing  Mr  Cophagus ;  "  these  are  the  papers  which  I 
require.     May  I  keep  them  ? " 

"  Mad — quite  mad — go  to  Bedlams-strait  waistcoat — 
head  shaved,  and  so  on." 


Chapter  XLIII 

I  am  not  content  with  minding  my  own  business,  but  must  have  a  hand  in 
that  of  others,  by  which  means  I  put  my  foot  in  it. 

He  then,  after  his  own  fashion,  told  me,  that  as  executor, 
he  must  retain  those  papers ;  pointed  out  to  me  the  little 
probability  there  was  of  their  containing  any  information 
relative  to  my  birth,  even  allowing  that  a  person  of  the 
name  of  De  Benyon  did  call  at  the  Foundling  to  ask  for 
me,  which  was  only  a  supposition ;  and,  finally,  overthrew 
all  the  hopes  which  had  been,  for  so  many  days,  buoying 
me  up.  When  he  had  finished,  I  threw  myself  upon  the 
sofa  in  despair,  and  wished,  at  the  moment,  that  I  had 
never  been  born.  Still  hope  again  rose  uppermost,  and  I 
would  have  given  all  I  possessed  to  have  been  able  to 


Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father  221 

break  open  the  seals  of  that  packet,  and  have  read  the 
contents.  At  one  moment  I  was  so  frantic,  that  I  was 
debating  whether  I  should  not  take  them  from  Mr 
Cophagus  by  force,  and  run  off  with  them.  At  last  I  rose, 
and  commenced  reading  the  letters  which  I  had  put  aside, 
but  there  was  nothing  in  them  but  the  trifling  communi- 
cations of  two  young  women,  who  mentioned  what  was 
amusing  to  them,  but  uninteresting  to  those  who  were  not 
acquainted  with  the  parties. 

When  we  had  finished,  Mr  Cophagus  collected  all 
together,  and  putting  them  into  a  box,  we  returned  in  a 
coach  to  the  hotel.  The  next  day  Mr  Cophagus  had 
completed  all  his  arrangements,  and  the  day  following  had 
determined  to  return  to  England.  I  walked  with  him 
down  to  the  vessel,  and  watched  it  for  an  hour  after  it  had 
sailed,  for  it  bore  away  a  packet  of  papers,  which  I  could 
not  help  imagining  were  to  discover  the  secret  which  I 
was  so  eager  in  pursuit  of.  A  night's  sleep  made  me  more 
rational,  and  I  now  resolved  to  ascertain  where  Sir  Henry 
de  Clare,  or  Melchior,  as  I  felt  certain  he  must  be,  was  to 
be  found.  I  sent  for  the  waiter,  and  asked  him  if  he 
could  inform  me.  He  immediately  replied  in  the  affirmative, 
and  gave  his  address.  Mount  Castle,  Connemara,  asking 
me  when  I  intended  to  set  out.  It  did  not  strike  me  till 
afterwards,  that  it  was  singular  that  he  should  be  so  well 
acquainted  with  the  address,  and  that  he  should  have  pro- 
duced a  card  with  it  written  upon  it ;  or,  moreover,  that 
he  should  know  that  it  was  my  intention  to  go  there.  I 
took  the  address,  and  desired  that  I  might  have  horses 
ready  very  early  the  next  morning.  I  then  sat  down  and 
wrote  a  letter  to  Harcourt,  informing  him  of  my  pro- 
ceedings, also  one  to  Mr  Masterton  much  more  explicit, 
lastly  to  Timothy,  to  the  care  of  Harcourt,  requesting  him 
to  let  me  know  what  had  occurred  between  him  and  the 
gipsies.  After  dinner,  I  packed  up  ready  for  my  journey, 
and  having  settled  my  bill,  I  was  not  sorry  to  retire  to  my 
bed. 

At  daylight  I  was,  as  I  requested,  called  by  the  waiter, 


22  2  Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father 

and  taking  with  me  only  a  very  small  portmanteau,  having 
left  the  rest  of  my  effects  in  the  charge  of  the  people  who 
kept  the  hotel,  I  set  off  in  a  post-chaise  on  my  expedition. 
I  was  soon  clear  of  the  city,  and  on  a  fine  smooth  road, 
and,  as  I  threw  myself  back  in  the  corner  of  the  chaise,  I 
could  not  help  asking  myself  the  question — what  was  the 
purport  of  my  journey  ?  As  the  reader  will  perceive,  I 
was  wholly  governed  by  impulses,  and  never  allowed 
reason  or  common  sense  to  stand  in  the  way  of  my  feelings. 
"What  have  I  to  do  ?"  replied  I  to  myself;  "  to  find  out 
if  Melchior  and  Sir  Henry  de  Clare  be  not  one  and  the 
same  person.  And  what  then  ?  "What  then  ? — why  then 
I  may  find  out  something  relative  to  Fleta's  parentage. 
Nay,  but  is  that  likely — if,  as  you  suppose,  Melchior  is 
Sir  Henry  de  Clare — if,  as  you  suppose,  it  is  he  who  is 
now  trying  to  find  out  and  carry  off  Fleta — is  it  probable 
that  you  will  gain  any  information  from  him  ?  I  have  an 
idea  that  Fleta  is  the  little  girl  said  to  have  died,  who  was 
the  child  of  his  elder  brother.  Why  so  ?  What  interest 
could  Melchior  have  in  stealing  his  own  niece  ?  That  I 
cannot  tell.  Why  did  Nattee  give  me  the  necklace  ?  I 
cannot  tell ;  she  would  hardly  betray  her  husband.  At  all 
events,  there  is  a  mystery,  and  it  can  only  be  unravelled 
by  being  pulled  at ;  and  I  may  learn  something  by  meeting 
Melchior,  whereas,  I  shall  learn  nothing  by  remaining 
quiet."  This  last  idea  satisfied  me,  and  for  many  hours 
I  remained  in  a  train  of  deep  thought,  only  checked  by 
paying  for  the  horses  at  the  end  of  every  stage. 

It  was  now  past  twelve  o'clock,  when  I  found  that  it 
was  necessary  to  change  the  chaise  at  every  post.  The 
country  also,  as  well  as  the  roads,  had  changed  much 
for  the  worse.  Cultivation  was  not  so  great,  the  roads 
were  mountainous,  and  civilisation  generally  disappeared. 
It  was  nearly  dark  when  I  arrived  at  the  last  post,  from 
whence  I  was  to  take  horses  to  Mount  Castle.  As  usual, 
the  chaise  also  was  to  be  changed  ;  and  I  could  not  help 
observing  that  each  change  was  from  bad  to  worse.  Rope 
harness  was  used,   and  the  vehicles  themselves  were  of 


Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father  223 

the  most  crazy  condition.  Still  I  had  travelled  very 
fairly,  for  an  Irish  postillion  knows  how  to  make  an  Irish 
horse  go  a  very  fair  pace.  I  descended  from  the  chaise, 
and  ordered  another  out  immediately.  To  this  there  was 
no  reply,  except,  "  "Wait,  your  honour  ;  step  in  a  moment, 
and  rest  from  your  fatigue  a  little."  Presuming  this  was 
merely  to  give  them  time  to  get  ready,  I  walked  into  the 
room  of  the  inn,  which  indeed  was  very  little  better  than 
a  hovel,  and  sat  down  by  the  turf  fire  in  company  with 
some  others,  whom  I  could  hardly  distinguish  for  smoke. 
I  paid  the  chaise  and  postillion,  and  soon  afterwards 
heard  it  drive  off,  on  its  way  back.  After  a  few  minutes 
I  inquired  if  the  chaise  was  getting  ready. 

"Is  it  the  chaise  your  honour  means  ? "  said  the 
landlady. 

**  Yes,"  replied  I,  a  chaise  on  to  Mount  Castle." 

"  Then  I  am  sorry  that  your  honour  must  wait  a  little ; 
for  our  chaise,  and  the  only  one  which  we  have,  is  gone 
to  the  castle,  and  won't  be  back  till  long  after  the  moon 
is  up.     What  will  your  honour  please  to  take  ?  " 

"Not  back  till  moonlight,"  replied  I;  "why  did 
you  not  say  so  .'*  and  I  would  have  gone  on  with  the 
other." 

"Is  it  with  the  other  you  mane,  your  honour?  Then 
if  Teddy  Driscoll  could  make  his  horses  go  one  step 
farther  than  our  door,  may  I  never  have  a  soul  to  be 
saved.  Will  your  honour  please  to  sit  in  the  little  room  ? 
Kathleen  shall  light  a  fire." 

Vexed  as  I  was  with  the  idea  of  passing  the  night  in 
this  horrid  place,  there  was  no  help  for  it :  so  I  took  up 
my  portmanteau  and  followed  the  landlady  to  a  small 
room,  if  it  deserved  the  appellation,  which  had  been 
built  after  the  cottage,  and  a  door  broken  through  the 
wall  into  it.  Ceiling  there  was  none,  it  had  only  lean- 
to  rafters,  with  tiles  over  head.  I  took  a  seat  on  the 
only  stool  that  was  in  the  room,  and  leant  my  elbow  on 
the  table  in  no  very  pleasant  humour,  when  I  heard  the 
girl  say,  "  And  why  don't  you  let  him  go  on  to  the  castle  ? 


224  Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father 

Sure  the  chaise  is  in  the  yard,  and  the  horses  are  in  the 
stable." 

"  There's  orders  'gainst  it,  Kathleen,"  replied  the  land- 
lady. "  Mr  M'Dermott  was  here  this  blessed  day,  and 
who  can  deny  him  ? " 

"  Who  is  he  then  ?  "  replied  the  girl. 

**  An  attorney  with  a  warrant  against  Sir  Henry ;  and, 
moreover,  they  say  that  he's  coming  to  'strain  upon  the 
cattle  of  Jerry  O'Toole  for  the  tithes." 

"  He's  a  bould  young  chap,  at  all  events,"  replied  the 
girl,  **  to  come  here  all  by  himself." 

**  Oh  !  but  it's  not  till  to-morrow  morning,  and  then 
we'll  have  the  troops  here  to  assist  him." 

**  And  does  Jerry  O'Toole  know  of  this  ?  " 

"  Sure  enough  he  does ;  and  I  hope  there'll  be  no 
murder  committed  in  my  house  this  blessed  night.  But 
what  can  a  poor  widow  do  when  M'Dermott  holds  up 
his  finger  ?  Now,  go  light  the  fire,  Kathleen,  and  see 
if  the  poor  young  man  wants  anything  ;  it's  a  burning 
pity  that  he  shouldn't  have  something  to  comfort  him 
before  his  misfortunes  fall  upon  him." 

Kathleen  made  no  reply.  The  horror  that  I  felt  at 
this  discourse  may  easily  be  imagined.  That  it  was  in- 
tended that  I  should  meet  with  foul  play  was  certain, 
and  I  knew  very  well  that,  in  such  a  desolate  part  of 
the  country,  the  murder  of  an  individual,  totally  unknown, 
would  hardly  be  noticed.  That  I  had  been  held  up  to 
the  resentment  of  the  inhabitants  as  a  tithe  collector  and 
an  attorney  with  a  warrant,  was  quite  sufficient,  I  felt 
conscious,  to  induce  them  to  make  away  with  me.  How 
to  undeceive  them  was  the  difficulty. 


Chapter  XLIV 

No  hopes  of  rising  next  morning  alive,  as  a  last  chance — I  get  into  bed. 

Kathleen  came  in  with  fuel  to  light  the  fire,  and  looking 
rather  hard  at  me,  passed  by,  and  was  soon  busy  blowing 


Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father  225 

up  the  turf.  She  was  a  very  handsome  dark-eyed  girl, 
about  nineteen  years  of  age,  stout  and  well  made.  "What 
is  your  name  ?  "  said  I. 

"  Kathleen,  at  your  service,  sir." 

"  Listen  to  me,  Kathleen,"  said  I,  in  a  low  voice.  "  You 
are  a  woman,  and  all  women  are  kind-hearted.  I  have 
overheard  all  that  passed  between  your  mistress  and  you, 
and  that  M'Dermott  has  stated  that  I  am  a  tithe  collector 
and  an  attorney,  with  a  warrant.  I  am  no  such  thing. 
I  am  a  gentleman  who  wishes  to  speak  to  Sir  Henry  de 
Clare  on  a  business  which  he  does  not  like  to  be  spoken 
to  about ;  and  to  show  you  what  I  say  is  the  truth,  it  is 
about  the  daughter  of  his  elder  brother,  who  was  killed 
when  hunting,  and  who  is  supposed  to  be  dead.  I  am 
the  only  evidence  to  the  contrary  ;  and,  therefore,  he  and 
M'Dermott  have  spread  this  report  that  I  may  come  to 
harm." 

"  Is  she  alive,  then  ? "  replied  Kathleen,  looking  up  to 
me  with  wonder. 

"  Yes  ;  and  I  will  not  tell  Sir  Henry  where  she  is,  and 
that  is  the  reason  of  their  enmity." 

**But  I  saw  her  body,"  replied  the  girl  in  a  low  voice, 
standing  up,  and  coming  close  to  me. 

**  It  was  not  hers,  depend  upon  it,"  replied  I,  hardly 
knowing  what  to  answer  to  this  assertion. 

"  At  all  events,  it  was  dressed  in  her  clothes  ;  but  it 
was  so  long  before  it  was  discovered,  that  we  could  make 
nothing  of  the  features.  Well,  I  knew  the  poor  little 
thing,  for  my  mother  nursed  her.  I  was  myself  brought 
up  at  the  castle,  and  lived  there  till  after  Sir  William  was 
killed  ;  then  we  were  all  sent  away." 

**  Kathleen  !  Kathleen  !  "  cried  the  landlady. 

"Call  for  everything  you  can  think  of  one  after 
another,"  whispered  Kathleen,  leaving  the  room. 

**  I  cannot  make  the  peat  burn,"  said  she  to  the  landlady, 
after  she  had  quitted  the  little  room  ;  **  and  the  gentleman 
wants  some  whisky." 

**  Go  out  then,  and  get  some  from  the  middle  of  the 

F  P 


226  Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father 

stack,  Kathleen,  and  be  quick ;  we  have  others  to  attend 
besides  the  tithe  proctor.  There's  the  O'Tooles  all  come 
in,  and  your  own  Corny  is  with  them." 

"  My  Corny,  indeed !  "  replied  Kathleen ;  **  he's  not  quite 
so  sure  of  that." 

In  a  short  time  Kathleen  returned,  and  brought  some 
dry  peat  and  a  measure  of  whisky.  "  If  what  you  say  is 
true,"  said  Kathleen,  "  and  sure  enough  you're  no  Irish, 
and  very  young  for  a  tithe  proctor,  who  must  grow  old 
before  he  can  be  such  a  villain,  you  are  in  no  very  pleasant 
way.  The  O'Tooles  are  here,  and  I've  an  idea  they  mean 
no  good ;  for  they  sit  with  all  their  heads  together, 
whispering  to  each  other,  and  all  their  shillelaghs  by  their 
sides." 

"Tell  me,  Kathleen,  was  the  daughter  of  Sir  William 
a  fair-haired,  blue-eyed  girl  ?  " 

"  To  be  sure  she  was,"  replied  Kathleen,  "  and  like  a 
little  mountain  fairy." 

"Now,  Kathleen,  tell  me  if  you  recollect  if  the  little 
girl  or  her  mother  ever  wore  a  necklace  of  red  beads 
mixed  with  gold." 

"  Yes,  that  my  lady  did  ;  and  it  was  on  the  child's  neck 
when  it  was  lost,  and  when  the  body  was  found,  it  was 
not  with  it.  Well  I  recollect  that,  for  my  mother  said  the 
child  must  have  been  drowned  or  murdered  for  the  sake 
of  the  gold  beads." 

"  Then  you  have  proved  all  I  wished,  Kathleen ;  and 
now  I  tell  you  that  this  little  girl  is  alive,  and  that  I  can 
produce  the  necklace  which  was  lost  with  her ;  and  more, 
that  she  was  taken  away  by  Sir  Henry  himself." 

"  Merciful  Jesus  I  "  replied  Kathleen  5  "the  dear  little 
child  that  we  cried  over  so  much." 

"  But  now,  Kathleen,  I  have  told  you  this,  to  prove  to 
you  that  I  am  not  what  M*Dermott  has  asserted,  no  doubt, 
with  the  intention  that  my  brains  shall  be  knocked  out  this 
night." 

"  And  so  they  will,  sure  enough,"  replied  Kathleen,  "  if 
you  do  not  escape." 


Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father  227 

*'  But  how  am  I  to  escape  ?  and  will  you  assist  me  ? " 
And  I  laid  down  on  the  table  ten  guineas  from  my  purse, 
"Take  that,  Kathleen,  and  it  will  help  you  and  Corny. 
Now  will  you  assist  me  ? " 

"  It's  Corny  that  will  be  the  first  to  knock  your  brains 
out,"  replied  Kathleen,  "  unless  I  can  stop  him.  I  must 
go  now,  and  I'll  see  what  can  be  done." 

Kathleen  would  have  departed  without  touching  the 
gold  ;  but  I  caught  her  by  the  wrist,  collected  it,  and  put 
it  into  her  hand.  "  That's  not  like  a  tithe  proctor,  at  all 
events,"  replied  Kathleen ;  "  but  my  heart  aches,  and  my 
head  swims,  and  what's  to  be  done  I  know  not."  So 
saying,  Kathleen  quitted  the  room. 

"  Well,"  thought  I,  after  she  had  left  the  room,  "  at  all 
events,  I  have  not  been  on  a  wrong  scent  this  time. 
Kathleen  has  proved  to  me  that  Fleta  is  the  daughter  of 
the  late  Sir  William  ;  and  if  I  escape  this  snare,  Melchior 
shall  do  her  justice."  Pleased  with  my  having  so  identi- 
fied Melchior  and  Fleta,  I  fell  into  a  train  of  thought,  and 
for  the  first  time  forgot  my  perilous  situation ;  but  I  was 
roused  from  my  meditations  by  an  exclamation  from  Kath- 
leen. "No,  no.  Corny,  nor  any  of  ye — not  now — and 
mother  and  me  to  witness  it — it  shall  not  be.  Corny,  hear 
me,  as  sure  as  blood's  drawn,  and  we  up  to  see  it,  so  sure 
does  Corny  O'Toole  never  touch  this  hand  of  mine."  A 
pause,  and  whispering  followed,  and  again  ull  appeared  to 
be  quiet.  I  unstrapped  my  portmanteau,  took  out  my 
pistols,  which  were  loaded,  re-primed  them,  and  remained 
quiet,  determined  to  sell  my  life  as  dearly  as  possible. 

It  was  more  than  half  an  hour  before  Kathleen  returned  ; 
she  looked  pale  and  agitated.  "  Keep  quiet,  and  do  not 
think  of  resistance,"  said  she,  "  it  is  useless.  I  have  told 
my  mother  all,  and  she  believes  you,  and  will  risk  her  life 
to  save  him  who  has  watched  over  the  little  girl  whom  she 
nursed ;  but  keep  quiet,  we  shall  soon  have  them  all  out 
of  the  house.  Corny  dare  not  disobey  me,  and  he  will 
persuade  the  others." 

She  then  went  out  again,  and  did  not  return  for  nearly 


2  28  Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father 

an  hour,  when  she  was  accompanied  by  her  mother. 
"  Kathleen  has  told  me  all,  young  sir,"  said  she,  "  and  do 
what  we  can,  we  will ;  but  we  hardly  know  what  to  do. 
To  go  to  the  castle  would  be  madness." 

"Yes,"  replied  I;  **but  cannot  you  give  me  one  of 
your  horses  to  return  the  way  I  came  ? " 

"  That  was  our  intention ;  but  I  find  that  the  O'Tooles 
have  taken  them  all  out  of  the  stable  to  prevent  me ;  and 
the  house  is  watched.  They  will  come  at  midnight  and 
attack  us,  that  I  fully  expect,  and  how  to  conceal  you 
puzzles  my  poor  head." 

*'  If  they  come,  we  can  but  persuade  them  that  he  has 
escaped,"  repHed  Kathleen ;  "  they  will  no  longer  watch 
the  house,  and  he  will  then  have  some  chance." 

"  There  is  but  one  chance,"  replied  the  mother,  who 
took  Kathleen  aside,  and  whispered  to  her.  Kathleen 
coloured  to  the  forehead,  and  made  no  reply.  "If 
your  mother  bids  you,  Kathleen,  there  can  be  no 
harm." 

"  Yes  ;  but  if  Corny  was " 

"He  dare  not,"  replied  the  mother;  "and  now  put 
this  light  out,  and  do  you  get  into  bed,  sir,  with  your 
clothes  on."  They  led  me  to  a  small  bed-room,  a  miser- 
able affair ;  but  in  that  part  of  the  country  considered 
respectable.  "Lie  down  there,"  said  the  mother,  "and 
wait  till  we  call  you."  They  took  the  light  away,  and 
left  me  to  myself  and  my  own  reflections,  which  were 
anything  but  pleasant.  I  lay  awake,  it  might  be  for  two 
hours,  when  I  heard  the  sound  of  feet,  and  then  a 
whispering  under  the  window,  and  shortly  afterwards 
a  loud  knocking  at  the  door,  which  they  were  attempting 
to  burst  open.  Every  moment  I  expected  that  it  would 
yield  to  the  violence  which  was  made  use  of,  when  the 
mother  came  down  half-dressed,  with  a  light  in  her  hand, 
hastened  to  me,  and  desired  me  to  follow  her.  I  did  so, 
and  before  she  left  my  room,  she  threw  the  window  wide 
open.  She  led  me  up  a  sort  of  half-stairs,  half-ladder, 
to  a  small  room,  where  I  found  Kathleen  sitting  up  in 


Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father  229 

her  bed,  and  half-dressed.  **  O  mother  !  mother  !  "  cried 
Kathleen. 

"I  bid  ye  do  it,  child,"  replied  the  mother,  desiring 
me  to  creep  into  her  daughter's  bed,  and  cover  myself  up 
on  the  side  next  the  wall. 

"Let  me  put  on  more  clothes,  mother." 

"No,  no,  if  you  do,  they  will  suspect,  and  will  not 
hesitate  to  search.     Your  mother  bids  you." 

The  poor  girl  was  burning  with  shame  and  confusion. 

"Nay,"  replied  I,  "if  Kathleen  does  not  wish  it,  I 
will  not  buy  my  safety  at  the  expense  of  her  feelings." 

"  Yes,  yes,"  replied  Kathleen,  "  I  don't  mind  now ; 
those  words  of  yours  are  sufficient.     Come  in,  quick." 


Chapter  XLV 

Petticoat  interest  prevails,  and   I   escape ;    but  I  put  my  head   into  the 
lion's  den. 

There  was  no  time  for  apology,  and  stepping  over 
Kathleen,  I  buried  myself  under  the  clothes  by  her  side. 
The  mother  then  hastened  downstairs,  and  arrived  at  the 
door  just  as  they  had  succeeded  in  forcing  it  open,  when 
in  pounced  a  dozen  men  armed,  with  their  faces  blackened. 
"Holy  Jesus!  what  is  it  that  you  want.?"  screamed  the 
landlady. 

"  The  blood  of  the  tithe  proctor,  and  that's  what  we'll 
have,"  replied  the  O'Tooles. 

"  Not  in  my  house — not  in  my  house ! "  cried  she. 
"  Take  him  away,  at  all  events ;  promise  me  to  take  him 
away." 

"So  we  will,  honey  darlintj  we'll  take  him  out  of 
your  sight,  and  out  of  your  hearing  too,  only  show  us 
where  he  may  be." 

"He's  sleeping,"  replied  the  mother,  pointing  to  the 
door  of  the  bedroom,  where  I  had  been  lying  down. 

The  party  took  the  light  from  her  hand,  and  went  into 


230  Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father 

the  room,  where  they  perceived  the  bed  empty  and  the 
window  open.  "Devil  a  bit  of  a  proctor  here,  anyhow," 
cried  one  of  them,  "and  the  window  open.  He's  off — 
hurrah  !  my  lads,  he  can't  be  far." 

"By  the  powers!  it's  just  my  opinion,  Mrs  M'Shane," 
replied  the  elder  O'Toole,  "that  he's  not  quite  so  far 
off;  so  with  your  lave,  or  by  your  lave,  or  without 
your  lave,  we'll  just  have  a  look  over  the  premises." 

"  O  !  and  welcome.  Mister  Jerry  O'Toole ;  if  you  think 
I'm  the  woman  to  hide  a  proctor,  look  everywhere  just 
as  you  please." 

The  party,  headed  by  Jerry  O'Toole,  who  had  taken 
the  light  out  of  Mrs  M'Shane's  hand,  now  ascended  the 
ladder  to  the  upper  storey,  and  as  I  lay  by  Kathleen, 
I  felt  that  she  trembled  with  fear.  After  examining 
every  nook  and  cranny  they  could  think  of,  they  came 
to  Mrs  M*Shane's  room,  "  O  !  go  in — go  in  and  look, 
Mr  O'Toole ;  it's  a  very  likely  thing  to  insinuate  that 
I  should  have  a  tithe  proctor  in  my  bed.  Search,  pray," 
and  Mrs  M'Shane  led  the  way  into  her  own  room. 

Every  part  had  been  examined,  except  the  small 
sleeping-room  of  Kathleen;  and  the  party  paused  before 
the  door.  "We  must  search,"  observed  O'Toole 
doggedly. 

"Search  my  daughter's!  very  well,  search  if  you 
please ;  it's  a  fine  story  you'll  have  to  tell,  how  six 
great  men  pulled  a  poor  girl  out  of  her  bed  to  look 
for  a  tithe  proctor.  It  will  be  a  credit  to  you  anyhow ; 
and  you,  Corny  O'Toole,  you'll  stand  well  in  her  good 
graces,  when  you  come  to  talk  about  the  wedding  day ; 
and  your  wife  that  is  to  be,  pulled  out  of  her  bed  by 
a  dozen  men.  What  will  ye  say  to  Kathleen,  when 
you  affront  her  by  supposing  that  a  maiden  girl  has  a 
tithe  proctor  in  bed  with  her  ?  D'ye  think  that  ye'll 
ever  have  the  mother's  consent  or  blessing  ? " 

"No  one  goes  into  Kathleen's  room,"  cried  Corny 
O'Toole,  roused  by  the  sarcasms  of  Mrs  M'Shane. 

"  Yes,  Corny,"  replied  Mrs  M'Shane,   "  it's  not  for  a 


Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father  231 

woman  like  me  to  be  suspected,  at  all  events  ;  so  you, 
and  you  only,  shall  go  into  the  room,  if  that  will  content 
ye,  Mr  Jerry  O'Toole." 

"  Yes ! "  replied  the  party,  and  Mrs  M*Shane  opened 
the  door. 

Kathleen  rose  up  on  her  elbow,  holding  the  bed  clothes 
up  to  her  throat,  and  looking  at  them,  as  they  entered, 
said,  "  O  Corny  !  Corny  !  this  to  me  ?  " 

Corny  never  thought  of  looking  for  anybody,  his 
eyes  were  rivetted  upon  his  sweetheart.  "  Murder, 
Kathleen,  is  it  my  fault }     Jerry  will  have  it." 

"  Are  you  satisfied.  Corny  ? "  said  Mrs  M*Shane. 

**  Sure  enough  I  was  satisfied  before  I  came  in,  that 
Kathleen  would  not  have  any  one  in  her  bedroom," 
replied  Corny. 

"  Then  good-night.  Corny,  and  it's  to-morrow  that 
I'll  talk  with  ye,"  replied  Kathleen. 

Mrs  M'Shane  then  walked  out  of  the  room,  expecting 
Corny  to  follow  •,  but  he  could  not  restrain  himself,  and 
he  came  to  the  bed-side.  Fearful  that  if  he  put  his  arms 
round  her,  he  would  feel  me,  Kathleen  raised  herself, 
and  allowed  him  to  embrace  her.  Fortunately  the  light 
was  not  in  the  room,  or  I  should  have  been  discovered, 
as  in  so  doing  she  threw  the  clothes  off  my  head  and 
shoulders.  She  then  pushed  back  Corny  from  her,  and 
he  left  the  room,  shutting  the  door  after  him.  The  party 
descended  the  ladder,  and  as  soon  as  Kathleen  perceived 
that  they  were  all  down,  she  sprang  out  of  bed  and  ran 
into  her  mother's  room.  Soon  after  I  heard  them  depart. 
Mrs  M'Shane  made  fast  the  door,  and  came  up  stairs. 
She  first  went  to  her  own  room,  where  poor  Kathleen 
was  crying  bitterly  from  shame  and  excitement.  I  had 
got  up  when  she  came  into  Kathleen's  room  for  her 
clothes,  and,  in  about  five  minutes,  they  returned  together. 
I  was  sitting  on  the  side  of  the  bed  when  they  came  in  : 
the  poor  girl  coloured  up  when  our  eyes  met.  "  Kathleen," 
said  I,  "  you  have,  in  all  probability,  saved  my  life,  and 
I  cannot  express  my  thanks.  I  am  only  sorry  that  your 
modesty  has  been  put  to  so  severe  a  trial." 


232  Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father 


a 


If  Corny  was  to  find  it  out,"  replied  Kathleen, 
sobbing  again.     **  How  could  I  do  such  a  thing  !  " 

"  Your  mother  bid  you,"  replied  Mrs  M'Shane,  "  and 
that  is  sufficient." 

*'  But  what  must  you  think  of  me,  sir  ?  *'  continued 
Kathleen. 

"  I  think  that  you  have  behaved  most  nobly.  You 
have  saved  an  innocent  man  at  the  risk  of  your  reputation, 
and  the  loss  of  your  lover.  It  is  not  now  that  I  can 
prove  my  gratitude." 

'*  Yes,  yes,  promise  me  by  all  that's  sacred,  that  you'll 
never  mention  it.  Surely  you  would  not  ruin  one  who 
has  tried  to  serve  you." 

"  I  promise  you  that,  and  I  hope  to  perform  a  great 
deal  more,"  replied  I.  "But  now,  Mrs  M'Shane,  what 
is  to  be  done  ?     Remain  here  I  cannot." 

"  No ;  you  must  leave,  and  that  very  soon.  Wait  about 
ten  minutes  more,  and  then  they  will  give  up  their  search 
and  go  home.  The  road  to  E — — "  (the  post  I  had  lately 
come  from)  "  is  the  best  you  can  take ;  and  you  must 
travel  as  fast  as  you  can,  for  there  is  no  safety  for  you 
here." 

"  I  am  convinced  that  rascal  M'Dermott  will  not  leave 
me  till  he  has  rid  himself  of  me."  I  then  took  out 
my  purse,  in  which  I  still  had  nearly  twenty  guineas. 
I  took  ten  of  them.  "  Mrs  M'Shane,  I  must  leave  you  in 
charge  of  my  portmanteau,  which  you  may  forward  by- 
and-bye,  when  you  hear  of  my  safety.  If  I  should  not  be 
so  fortunate,  the  money  is  better  in  your  hands  than  in 
the  hands  of  those  who  will  murder  me.  Kathleen,  God 
bless  you  !  you  are  a  good  girl,  and  Corny  O'Toole  will 
be  a  happy  man  if  he  knows  your  value." 

I  then  wished  Kathleen  good-bye,  and  she  allowed  me 
to  kiss  her  without  any  resistance  5  but  the  tears  were 
coursing  down  her  cheeks  as  I  left  the  room  with  her 
mother.  Mrs  M*Shane  looked  carefully  out  of  the 
windows,  holding  the  light  to  ascertain  if  there  was  any- 
body  near,    and,   satisfied   with    her   scrutiny,    she   then 


Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father  233 

opened  the  door,  and  calling  down  the  saints  to  protect 
me,  shook  hands  with  me,  and  I  quitted  the  house.  It 
was  a  dark,  cloudy  night,  and  when  I  first  went  out,  I 
was  obliged  to  grope,  for  I  could  distinguish  nothing. 
I  walked  along  with  a   pistol  loaded  in  each  hand,  and 

gained,  as  I  thought,  the  high  road  to  E ,  but  I  made 

a  sad  mistake ;  and  puzzled  by  the  utter  darkness  and 
turnings,  I  took,  on  the  contrary,  the  road  to  Mount 
Castle.  As  soon  as  I  was  clear  of  the  houses  and  the 
enclosure,  there  was  more  light,  and  I  could  distinguish 
the  road.  I  had  proceeded  about  four  or  five  miles, 
when  I  heard  the  sound  of  horses'  hoofs,  and  shortly 
afterwards  two  men  rode  by  me.     I  inquired  if  that  was 

the   way  to   E .     A   pause   ensued,    and   a  whisper. 

**  All's  right !  "  replied  a  deep  voice.  I  continued  my 
way,  glad  to  find  that  I  had  not  mistaken  it,  and  cogitat- 
ing as  to  what  must  be  the  purpose  of  two  men  being  out 
at  such  an  hour.  About  ten  minutes  afterwards  I  thought 
I  again  heard  the  sound  of  horses'  feet,  and  it  then 
occurred  to  me  that  they  must  be  highwaymen,  who  had 
returned  to  rob  me.  I  cocked  my  pistols,  determined  to 
sell  my  life  as  dearly  as  I  could,  and  awaited  their  coming 
up  with  anxiety ;  but  they  appeared  to  keep  at  the  same 
distance,  as  the  sound  did  not  increase.  After  half  an 
hour  I  came  to  two  roads,  and  was  undecided  which  to 
take.  I  stopped  and  listened — the  steps  of  the  horses 
were  no  longer  to  be  heard.  I  looked  round  me  to 
ascertain  if  I  could  recognise  any  object  so  as  to  decide 
me,  but  I  could  not.  I  took  the  road  to  the  left,  and  pro- 
ceeded, until  I  arrived  at  a  brook  which  crossed  the  road. 
There  was  no  bridge,  and  it  was  too  dark  to  perceive  the 
stepping  stones.  I  had  just  waded  about  half  way  across, 
when  I  received  a  blow  on  the  head  from  behind,  which 
staggered  me.  I  turned  round,  but  before  I  could  see 
my  assailant,  a  second  blow  laid  me  senseless  in  the 
water. 


■34  Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father 


Chapter   XLVI 

Under  ground   but   not   yet   dead   and    buried — The    prospect   anything 
but  pleasant. 

When  my  recollection  returned  I  found  myself  in  the 
dark,  but  where,  I  knew  not.  My  head  ached,  and  my 
brain  reeled.  I  sat  up  for  a  moment  to  collect  my  senses, 
but  the  effort  was  too  painful,  I  fell  back,  and  remained  in 
a  state  of  half  stupor.  Gradually  I  recovered,  and  again 
sat  up.  I  perceived  that  I  had  been  lying  on  a  bed  of 
straw,  composed  of  two  or  three  trusses  apparently.  I 
felt  with  my  extended  arms  on  each  side  of  me,  but 
touched  nothing.  I  opened  my  eyes,  which  I  had  closed 
again,  and  tried  to  pierce  through  the  obscurity,  but  in 
vain — all  was  dark  as  Erebus.  I  then  rose  on  my  feet, 
and  extending  my  hands  before  me,  walked  five  or  six 
steps  on  one  side,  till  I  was  clear  of  the  straw,  and  came 
to  a  wall.  I  followed  the  wall  about  twenty  feet,  and 
then  touched  wood ;  groping  about,  I  found  it  was  a 
door.  I  then  made  the  circuit  of  the  walls,  and  discovered 
that  the  other  side  was  built  with  bins  for  wine,  which 
were  empty,  and  I  then  found  myself  again  at  the  straw 
upon  which  I  had  been  laid.  It  was  in  a  cellar  no  longer 
used — but  where  ?  Again  I  lay  down  upon  the  straw, 
and,  as  it  may  be  imagined,  my  reflections  were  anything 
but  pleasing.  "  Was  I  in  the  power  of  M*Dermott  or 
Melchior  ? "  I  felt  convinced  that  I  was ;  but  my  head 
was  too  painful  for  long  thought,  and  after  half  an  hour's 
reflection,  I  gave  way  to  a  sullen  state  of  half-dreaming, 
half-stupor,  in  which  the  forms  of  M*Dermott,  Kathleen, 
Melchior,  and  Fleta,  passed  in  succession  before  me.  How 
long  I  remained  in  this  second  species  of  trance  I  cannot 
say,  but  I  was  roused  by  the  light  of  a  candle,  which 
flashed  in  my  eyes.  I  started  up,  and  beheld  Melchior 
in  his  gipsy's  dress,  just  as  when  I  had  taken  leave 
of  him. 


Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father  235 

"It  is  to  you,  then,  that  I  am  indebted  for  this  treat- 
ment ? "  replied  I. 

*'No;  not  to  me,"  replied  Melchior.  "I  do  not 
command  here ;  but  I  knew  you  when  they  brought  you 
in  insensible,  and  being  employed  in  the  castle,  I  have 
taken  upon  myself  the  office  of  your  gaoler,  that  I  might, 
if  possible,  serve  you." 

I  felt,  I  knew  this  to  be  false,  but  a  moment's  reflection 
told  me  that  it  was  better  at  present  to  temporise. 

**  Who  then  does  the  castle  belong  to,  Melchior  ? " 

"  To  Sir  Henry  de  Clare." 

"  And  what  can  be  his  object  in  treating  me  thus  ? " 

"  That  I  can  tell  you,  because  I  am  a  party  concerned. 
You  remember  the  little  girl,  Fleta,  who  left  the  gipsy 
camp  with  you — she  is  now  somewhere  under  your  care  ? " 

"  Well,  I  grant  it  -,  but  I  was  answerable  only  to  you 
about  her." 

"Very  true,  but  I  was  answerable  to  Sir  Henry;  and 
when  I  could  only  say  that  she  was  well,  he  was  not 
satisfied,  for  family  reasons  now  make  him  very  anxious 
that  she  should  return  to  him ;  and,  indeed,  it  will  be  for 
her  advantage,  as  she  will  in  all  probability  be  his  heir, 
for  he  has  satisfactorily  proved  that  she  is  a  near  relative." 

"  Grant  all  that,  Melchior ;  but  why  did  not  Sir  Henry 
de  Clare  write  to  me  on  the  subject,  and  state  his  wishes, 
and  his  right  to  demand  his  relative  ?  And  why  does  he 
treat  me  in  this  way  ?  Another  question — how  is  it  that 
he  has  recognised  me  to  be  the  party  who  has  charge  of 
the  little  girl  ?  Answer  me  those  questions,  Melchior,  and 
then  I  may  talk  over  the  matter." 

"I  will  answer  the  last  question  first.  He  knew  your 
name  from  me,  and  it  so  happened,  that  a  friend  of  his 
met  you  in  the  coach  as  you  were  coming  to  Ireland :  the 
same  person  also  saw  you  at  the  post-house,  and  gave 
information.  Sir  Henry,  who  is  a  violent  man,  and  here 
has  almost  regal  sway,  determined  to  detain  you  till  you 
surrendered  up  the  child.  You  recollect,  that  you  refused 
to  tell  his  agent,  the  person  whose  address  I  gave  you. 


236  Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father 

where  she  was  to  be  found,  and,  vexed  at  this,  he  has 
taken  the  law  into  his  own  hands. 

"  For  which  he  shall  smart,  one  of  these  days,"  replied 
I,  "if  there  is  law  in  this  country." 

"There  is  a  law  in  England,  but  very  little,  and  none 
that  will  harm  Sir  Henry  in  this  part  of  the  country.  No 
officer  would  venture  within  five  miles  of  the  castle,  I  can 
assure  you ;  for  he  knows  very  well  that  it  would  cost  him 
his  life  ;  and  Sir  Henry  never  quits  it  from  one  year's  end 
to  the  other.  You  are  in  his  power,  and  all  that  he 
requires  is  information  where  the  child  may  be  found,  and 
an  order  for  her  being  delivered  to  him.  You  cannot 
object  to  this,  as  he  is  her  nearest  relative.  If  you  comply, 
I  do  not  doubt  but  Sir  Henry  will  make  you  full  amends 
for  this  harsh  treatment,  and  prove  a  sincere  friend  ever 
afterwards." 

"  It  requires  consideration,"  replied  1 5  "at  present,  I 
am  too  much  hurt  to  talk." 

"  I  was  afraid  so,"  replied  Melchior,  "  that  was  one 
reason  why  I  obtained  leave  to  speak  to  you.  Wait 
a  moment." 

Melchior  then  put  the  candle  down  on  the  ground, 
and  went  out,  and  turned  the  key.  I  found,  on  looking 
round,  that  I  was  right  in  my  conjectures.  I  was  in  a 
cellar,  which,  apparently,  had  long  been  in  disuse. 
Melchior  soon  returned,  followed  by  an  old  crone,  who 
carried  a  basket  and  a  can  of  water.  She  washed  the 
blood  oiF  my  head,  put  some  salve  upon  the  wounds,  and 
bound  them  up.     She  then  went  away,  leaving  the  basket. 

"  There  is  something  to  eat  and  drink  in  that  basket," 
observed  Melchior  ;  "  but  I  think,  Japhet,  you  will  agree 
with  me,  that  it  will  be  better  to  yield  to  the  wishes  of 
Sir  Henry,  and  not  remain  in  this  horrid  hole." 

"Very  true,  Melchior,"  replied  I;  "but  allow  me  to 
ask  you  a  question  or  two.  How  came  you  here  ?  where  is 
Nattee,  and  how  is  it,  that  after  leaving  the  camp,  I  find 
you  so  reduced  in  circumstances,  as  to  be  serving  such  a 
man  as  Sir  Henry  De  Clare  ? " 


Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father  237 

"A  few  words  will  explain  that,"  replied  he.  "In  my 
early  days  I  was  wild,  and  I  am,  to  tell  you  the  truth,  in 
the  power  of  this  man  ;  nay,  I  will  tell  you  honestly,  my 
life  is  in  his  power ;  he  ordered  me  to  come,  and  I  dare 
not  disobey  him — and  he  retains  me  here." 

**  And  Nattee  ?  " 

"  Is  quite  well,  and  with  me,  but  not  very  happy  in  her 
present  situation  ;  but  he  is  a  dangerous,  violent,  implac- 
able man,  and  I  dare  not  disobey  him.  I  advise  you  as  a 
friend,  to  consent  to  his  wishes." 

"That  requires  some  deliberation,"  replied  I,  "and  I 
am  not  one  of  those  who  are  to  be  driven.  My  feelings 
towards  Sir  Henry,  after  this  treatment,  are  not  the  most 
amicable;  besides,  how  am  I  to  know  that  Fleta  is  his 
relative  ? " 

"  "Well,  I  can  say  no  more,  Japhet.  I  wish  you  well 
out  of  his  hands." 

"  You  have  the  power  to  help  me,  if  that  is  the  case," 
said  I. 

"I  dare  not." 

"  Then  you  are  not  the  Melchior  that  you  used  to  be," 
replied  I. 

"We  must  submit  to  fate.  I  must  not  stay  longer; 
you  will  find  all  that  you  want  in  the  basket,  and  more 
candles,  if  you  do  not  like  being  in  the  dark.  I  do  not 
think  I  shall  be  permitted  to  come  again,  till  to-morrow." 

Melchior  then  went  out,  locked  the  door  after  him, 
and  I  was  left  to  my  meditations. 


Chapter  XLVII 

A  friend  in  need  is  a  friend  in  deed — The  tables  are  turned  and  so  is  the 
key — The  issue  in  deep  tragedy. 

Was  it  possible  that  which  Melchior  said  was  true  ?  A 
little  reflection  told  me  that  it  was  all  false,  and  that  he 
was  himself  Sir  Henry  de  Clare.     I  was  in  his  power. 


23^  J^P^st,  in  Search  of  a  Father 

and  what  might  be  the  result  ?  He  might  detain  me, 
but  he  dare  not  murder  me.  Dare  not !  My  heart  sank 
when  I  considered  where  I  was,  and  how  easy  would  it  be 
for  him  to  despatch  me,  if  so  inclined,  without  any  one 
ever  being  aware  of  my  fate.  I  lighted  a  whole  candle, 
that  I  might  not  find  myself  in  the  dark  when  I  rose, 
and  exhausted  in  body  and  mind,  was  soon  fast  asleep.  I 
must  have  slept  many  hours,  for  when  I  awoke  I  was  in 
darkness — the  candle  had  burnt  out.  I  groped  for  the 
basket,  and  examined  the  contents  with  my  hands,  and 
found  a  tinder-box.  I  struck  a  light,  and  then  feeling 
hungry  and  weak,  refreshed  myself  with  the  eatables 
it  contained,  which  were  excellent,  as  well  as  the  wine.  I 
had  replaced  the  remainder,  when  the  key  again  turned 
in  the  door,  and  Melchior  made  his  appearance. 

**  How  do  you  feel,  Japhet,  to-day  ? " 

"  To-day  !  "  replied  I ;  "  day  and  night  are  the  same 
to  me." 

"  That  is  your  own  fault,"  replied  he.  "  Have  you 
considered  what  I  proposed  to  you  yesterday  ? " 

"  Yes,"  replied  I  *,  "  and  I  will  agree  to  this.  Let 
Sir  Henry  give  me  my  liberty,  come  over  to  England, 
prove  his  relationship  to  Fleta,  and  I  will  give  her  up. 
What  can  he  ask  for  more  ? " 

**  He  will  hardly  consent  to  that,"  replied  Melchior ; 
"  for,  once  in  England,  you  will  take  a  warrant  out  against 
him." 

*'  No  ;  on  my  honour  I  will  not,  Melchior." 

*'  He  will  not  trust  to  that." 

"  Then  he  must  judge  of  others  by  himself,"  replied  I. 

"  Have  you  no  other  terms  to  propose,"  replied 
Melchior. 

**  None." 

"Then  I  will  carry  your  message,  and  give  you  his 
answer  to-morrow." 

Melchior  then  brought  in  another  basket,  and  took 
away  the  former,  and  did  not  make  his  appearance  till  the 
next    day.      I    now    had    recovered    my    strength,    and 


Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father  239 

determined  to  take  some  decided  measures,  but  how  to  act 
I  knew  not.  I  reflected  all  night,  and  the  next  morning 
(that  is,  according  to  my  supposition)  I  attacked  the 
basket.  Whether  it  was  that  ennui  or  weakness  occasioned 
it,  I  cannot  tell,  but  either  way,  I  drank  too  much  wine, 
and  was  ready  for  any  daring  deed,  when  Melchior  again 
the  door. 

"  Sir  Henry  will  not  accept  of  your  terms.  I  thought 
not,"  said  Melchior,  "  I  am  sorry — very  sorry." 

"  Melchior,"  replied  I,  starting  up  5  "  let  us  have  no 
more  of  this  duplicity.  I  am  not  quite  so  ignorant  as  you 
suppose.     I  know  who  Fleta  is,  and  who  you  are." 

"  Indeed,"  replied  Melchior;  "  perhaps  you  will 
explain  ? " 

**I  will.  You,  Melchior,  are  Sir  Henry  de  Clare;  you 
succeeded  to  your  estates  by  the  death  of  your  elder  brother, 
from  a  fall  when  hunting." 

Melchior  appeared  astonished. 

" Indeed  !"  replied  he ;  "pray  go  on.  You  have  made 
a  gentleman  of  me." 

*'No;  rather  a  scoundrel." 

"  As  you  please  ;  now  will  you  make  a  lady  of  Fleta  .?  " 

"  Yes,  I  will.  She  is  your  niece."  Melchior  started 
back.  "  Your  agent,  M*Dermott,  who  was  sent  over  to 
find  out  Fleta's  abode,  met  me  in  the  coach,  and  he  has 
tracked  me  here,  and  risked  my  life,  by  telling  the  people 
that  I  was  a  tithe  proctor." 

"  Your  information  is  very  important,"  replied  Melchior, 
**  You  will  find  some  difficulty  to  prove  all  you  say." 

"  Not  the  least,"  replied  I,  flushed  with  anger  and  with 
wine,  "  I  have  proof  positive.  I  have  seen  her  mother,  and 
I  can  identify  the  child  by  the  necklace  which  was  on  her 
neck  when  you  stole  her." 

"  Necklace  !  "  cried  Melchior. 

"  Yes,  the  necklace  put  into  my  hands  by  your  own  wife 
when  we  parted." 

'*  Damn  her  !  "  replied  Melchior. 

**  Do  not  damn  her ;  damn  yourself  for  your  villany,  and 


240  Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father 

its  being  brought  to  light.  Have  I  said  enough,  or  shall  I 
tell  you  more  ?  " 

**Pray  tell  me  more." 

"No,  I  will  not,  for  I  must  commit  others,  and  that 
will  not  do,"  replied  I ;  for  I  felt  I  had  already  said  too 
much. 

"  You  have  committed   yourself,  at  all  events,"  replied 

Melchior ;    "  and   now   I   tell   you,    that    until never 

mind,"  and  Melchior  hastened  away. 

The  door  was  again  locked,  and  I  was  once  more  alone. 

I  had  time  to  reflect  upon  my  imprudence.  The  coun- 
tenance of  Melchior,  when  he  left  me,  was  that  of  a  demon. 
Something  told  me  to  prepare  for  death ;  and  I  was  not 
wrong.  The  next  day  Melchior  came  not,  nor  the  next ; 
my  provisions  were  all  gone.  I  had  nothing  but  a  little 
wine  and  water  left.  The  idea  struck  me,  that  I  was  to  die 
of  starvation.  Was  there  no  means  of  escape  ?  None  ;  I 
had  no  weapon,  no  tool,  not  even  a  knife.  I  had  expended 
all  my  candles.  At  last,  it  occurred  to  me,  that,  although 
I  was  in  a  cellar,  my  voice  might  be  heard,  and  I  resolved, 
as  a  last  effort,  to  attempt  it.  I  went  to  the  door  of  the 
cellar,  and  shouted  at  the  top  of  my  lungs,  "  Murder — 
murder  !  "  I  shouted  again  and  again  as  loud  as  I  could, 
until  I  was  exhausted.  As  it  afterwards  appeared,  this  plan 
did  prevent  my  being  starved  to  death,  for  such  was 
Melchior's  villanous  intention.  About  an  hour  afterwards 
I  repeated  my  cries  of  "  Murder — murder  !  "  and  they  were 
heard  by  the  household,  who  stated  to  Melchior,  that  there 
was  some  one  shouting  murder  in  the  vaults  below.  That 
night,  and  all  the  next  day,  I  repeated  my  cries  occasionally. 
I  was  now  quite  exhausted,  I  had  been  nearly  two  days 
without  food,  and  my  wine  and  water  had  all  been  drunk. 
I  sat  down  with  a  parched  mouth  and  heated  brain,  waiting 
till  I  could  sufficiently  recover  my  voice  to  repeat  my  cries, 
when  I  heard  footsteps  approaching.  The  key  was  again 
turned  in  the  door,  and  a  light  appeared,  carried  by  one  of 
two  men  armed  with  large  sledge  hammers. 

"  It  is  then  all  over  with  me,"  cried  I ;  **  and  I  never 


Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father  241 

shall    find   out  who  is  my  father.     Come  on,  murderers, 
and  do  your  work.     Do  it  quickly." 

The  two  men  advanced  without  speaking  a  word ;  the 
foremost,  who  carried  the  lantern,  laid  it  down  at  his  feet, 
and  raised  his  hammer  with  both  hands,  when  the  other 
behind  him  raised  his  weapon — and  the  foremost  fell  dead 
at  his  feet. 


Chapter  XLVIII 

Is  full  of  perilous  adventures,  and  in  which,  the  reader  may  be  assured,  there 
is  much  more  than  meets  the  eye. 

"  Silence,"  said  a  voice  that  I  well  knew,  although  his 
face  was  completely  disguised.  It  was  Timothy  I  "  Silence, 
Japhet,"  again  whispered  Timothy ;  "  there  is  yet  much 
danger,  but  I  will  save  you,  or  die.  Take  the  hammer. 
Melchior  is  waiting  outside."  Timothy  put  the  lantern  in 
the  bin,  so  as  to  render  it  more  dark,  and  led  me  towards 
the  door,  whispering,  "  when  he  comes  in,  we  will  secure 
him." 

Melchior  soon  made  his  appearance,  and  as  he  entered 
the  cellar,  "  Is  it  all  right  ?  "  said  he,  going  up  to  Timothy, 
and  passing  me. 

With  one  blow  I  felled  him  to  the  ground,  and  he  lay 
insensible.  "  That  will  do,"  replied  Timothy ;  "  now  we 
must  be  off." 

**  Not  till  he  takes  my  place,"  replied  I,  as  I  shut  the 
door,  and  locked  it.  "Now  he  may  learn  what  it  is  to 
starve  to  death." 

I  then  followed  Timothy,  by  a  passage  which  led  outside 
of  the  castle,  through  which  he  and  his  companion  had  been 
admitted.  "  Our  horses  are  close  by,"  said  Timothy;  "  for 
we  stipulated  upon  leaving  the  country  after  it  was  done." 

It  was  just  dark  when  we  were  safe  out  of  the  castle. 
We  mounted  our  horses,  and  set  off  with  all  speed.  We 
followed  the  high  road  to  the  post  town  to  which  I  had  been 
F  Q 


242  Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father 

conveyed,  and  I  determined  to  pull  up  at  Mrs  M*Shane's, 
for  I  was  so  exhausted  that  I  could  go  no  further.  This 
was  a  measure  which  required  precaution,  and  as  there  was 
moonlight,  I  turned  off  the  road  before  I  entered  the  town, 
or  village,  as  it  ought  to  have  been  called,  so  that  we  dis- 
mounted at  the  back  of  Mrs  M'Shane's  house.  I  went  to 
the  window  of  the  bedroom  where  I  had  lain  down,  and 
tapped  gently,  again  and  again,  and  no  answer.  At  last, 
Kathleen  made  her  appearance. 

"  Can  I  come  in,  Kathleen  ? "  said  I  j  **  I  am  almost  dead 
with  fatigue  and  exhaustion." 

"  Yes,"  replied  she,  "  I  will  open  the  back-door ;  there 
is  no  one  here  to-night — it  is  too  early  for  them." 

I  entered,  followed  by  Timothy,  and,  as  I  stepped  over 
the  threshold,  I  fainted.  As  soon  as  I  recovered,  Mrs 
M'Shane  led  me  up  stairs  into  her  room  for  security,  and  I 
was  soon  able  to  take  the  refreshment  I  so  much  required. 
I  stated  what  had  passed  to  Mrs  M*Shane  and  Kathleen, 
who  were  much  shocked  at  the  account. 

"  You  had  better  wait  till  it  is  late,  before  you  go  on," 
said  Mrs  M*Shane,  "  it  will  be  more  safe ;  it  is  now  nine 
o'clock,  and  the  people  will  all  be  moving  till  eleven.  I  will 
give  your  horses  some  corn,  and  when  you  are  five  miles 
from  here,  you  may  consider  yourselves  as  safe.  Holy 
saints  !  what  an  escape  !  " 

The  advice  was  too  good  not  to  be  followed,  and  I  was 
so  exhausted,  that  I  was  glad  that  prudence  was  on  the 
side  of  repose.  I  lay  down  on  Mrs  M^Shane's  bed,  while 
Timothy  watched  over  me.  I  had  a  short  slumber,  and 
then  was  awakened  by  the  good  landlady,  who  told  me 
that  it  was  time  for  us  to  quit.  Kathleen  then  came  up  to 
me,  and  said,  **  I  would  ask  a  favour  of  you,  sir,  and  I  hope 
you  will  not  refuse  it." 

"Kathleen,  you  may  ask  anything  of  me,  and  depend 
upon  it,  I  will  not  refuse  it,  if  I  can  grant  it." 

"  Then,  sir,"  replied  the  good  girl,  "  you  know  how  I 
overcame  my  feelings  to  serve  you,  will  you  overcome 
yours  for  me  ?     I  cannot  bear  the  idea  that  anyone,  bad  as 


Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father  243 

he  may  be,  of  the  family  who  have  reared  me,  should  perish 
in  so  miserable  a  manner ;  and  I  cannot  bear  that  any  man, 
bad  as  he  is,  even  if  I  did  not  feel  obliged  to  him,  should 
die  so  full  of  guilt,  and  without  absolution.  Will  you  let 
me  have  the  key,  that  Sir  Henry  de  Clare  may  be  released 
after  you  are  safe  and  away  ?  I  know  he  does  not  deserve 
any  kindness  from  you ;  but  it  is  a  horrid  death,  and  a 
horrid  thing  to  die  so  loaded  with  crime." 

"  Kathleen,"  replied  I,  "  I  will  keep  my  word  with  you. 
Here  is  the  key  ;  take  it  up  to-morrow  morning,  and  give 
it  to  Lady  de  Clare  ;  tell  her  Japhet  Newland  sent  it." 

"  I  will,  and  God  bless  you,  sir." 

"  Good-bye,  sir,"  said  Mrs  M'Shane,  "  you  have  no  time 
to  lose." 

"  God  bless  you,  sir,"  said  Kathleen,  who  now  put  her 
arms  round  me  and  kissed  me.  We  mounted  our  horses 
and  set  off. 

We  pressed  our  horses,  or  rather  ponies,  for  they  were 
very  small,  till  we  had  gained  about  six  miles,  when  we 
considered  that  we  were,  comparatively  speaking,  safe,  and 
then  drew  up,  to  allow  them  to  recover  their  wind.  I  was 
very  much  exhausted  myself,  and  hardly  spoke  one  word 
until  we  arrived  at  the  next  post  town,  when  we  found 
everybody  in  bed.  We  contrived,  however,  to  knock  them 
up,  and  Timothy  having  seen  that  our  horses  were  put  into 
the  stable,  we  lay  down  till  the  next  morning  upon  a  bed 
which  happened  to  be  unoccupied.  Sorry  as  were  the 
accommodations,  I  never  slept  so  soundly,  and  woke  quite 
refreshed.  The  next  morning  I  stated  my  intention  of 
posting  to  Dublin,  and  asked  Tim  what  we  should  do  with 
the  horses. 

**  They  belong  to  the  castle,"  replied  he." 

"  Then  in  God's  name,  let  the  castle  have  them,  for  I 
wish  for  nothing  from  that  horrid  place." 

We  stated  to  the  landlord  that  the  horses  were  to  be  sent 
back,  and  that  the  man  who  took  them  would  be  paid  for 
his  trouble ;  and  then  it  occurred  to  me,  that  it  would  be  a 
good  opportunity  of  writing  to  Melchior,  alias  Sir  Henry. 


244  Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father 

I  do  not  know  why,  but  certainly  my  animosity  against  him 
had  subsided,  and  I  did  not  think  of  taking  legal  measures 
against  him.  I  thought  it,  however,  right  to  frighten  him. 
I  wrote,  therefore,  as  follows  : — 

Sir  Henry, — I  send  you  back  your  horses  with  thanks, 
as  they  have  enabled  Timothy  and  me  to  escape  from  your 
clutches.  Your  reputation  and  your  life  now  are  in  my 
power,  and  I  will  have  ample  revenge.  The  fact  of  your 
intending  murder,  will  be  fully  proved  by  my  friend 
Timothy,  who  was  employed  by  you  in  disguise,  and 
accompanied  your  gipsy.  You  cannot  escape  the  sentence 
of  the  law.  Prepare  yourself,  then,  for  the  worst,  as  it  is 
not  my  intention  that  you  shall  escape  the  disgraceful 
punishment  due  to  your  crimes. 

Yours,  Japhet  Newland, 

Having  sealed  this,  and  given  it  to  the  lad  who  was  to 
return  with  the  horses,  we  finished  our  breakfast,  and 
took  a  post-chaise  on  for  Dublin,  where  we  arrived  late  in 
the  evening.  During  our  journey  I  requested  Timothy  to 
narrate  what  had  passed,  and  by  what  fortunate  chance  he 
had  been  able  to  come  so  opportunely  to  my  rescue. 

"  If  you  recollect,  Japhet,"  replied  Timothy,  **  you  had 
received  one  or  two  letters  from  me,  relative  to  the 
movements  of  the  gipsy,  and  stating  his  intention  to  carry 
off  the  little  girl  from  the  boarding-school.  My  last  letter, 
in  which  I  had  informed  you  that  he  had  succeeded  in 
gaining  an  entrance  into  the  ladies'  school  at  Brentford, 
could  not  have  reached  you,  as  I  found  by  your  note  that 
you  had  set  off  the  same  evening.  The  gipsy,  whom  I 
only  knew  by  the  name  of  Will,  inquired  of  me  the  name 
by  which  the  little  girl  was  known,  and  my  answer  was. 
Smith ;  as  I  took  it  for  granted  that,  in  a  large  seminary, 
there  must  be  one,  if  not  more,  of  that  name.  Acting 
upon  this,  he  made  inquiries  of  the  maid-servant  to  whom 
he  paid  his  addresses,  and  made  very  handsome  presents, 
if  there  was  a  Miss  Smith  in  the  school  j  she  replied,  that 


Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father  245 

there  were  two,  one  a  young  lady  of  sixteen,  and  the  other 
about  twelve  years  old.  Of  course  the  one  selected  was 
the  younger.  Will  had  seen  me  in  my  livery,  and  his  plan 
was  to  obtain  a  similar  one,  hire  a  chariot,  and  go  down  to 
Brentford,  with  a  request  that  Miss  Smith  might  be  sent 
up  with  him  immediately,  as  you  were  so  ill  that  you  were 
not  expected  to  live ;  but  previous  to  his  taking  this  step, 
he  wrote  to  Melchior,  requesting  his  orders  as  to  how  he 
was  to  proceed  when  he  had  obtained  the  child.  The 
answer  from  Melchior  arrived.  By  this  time,  he  had 
discovered  that  you  were  in  Ireland,  and  intended  to  visit 
him  J  perhaps  he  had  you  in  confinement,  for  I  do  not 
know  how  long  you  were  there,  but  the  answer  desired 
Will  to  come  over  immediately,  as  there  would  be  in  all 
probability  work  for  him,  that  would  be  well  paid  for. 
Ke  had  now  become  so  intimate  with  me,  that  he  disguised 
nothing  j  he  showed  me  the  letter,  and  I  asked  him  what 
it  meant ;  he  replied  that  there  was  somebody  to  put  out 
of  the  way,  that  was  clear.  It  immediately  struck  me, 
that  you  must  be  the  person  if  such  was  the  case,  and  I 
volunteered  to  go  with  him,  to  which,  after  some  difficulty, 
he  consented.  We  travelled  outside  the  mail,  and  in  four 
days  we  arrived  at  the  castle.  Will  went  up  to  Melchior, 
who  told  him  what  it  was  that  he  required.  Will  con- 
sented, and  then  stated  he  had  another  hand  with  him, 
which  might  be  necessary,  vouching  for  my  doing  anything 
that  was  required.  Melchior  sent  for  me,  and  I  certainly 
was  afraid  that  he  would  discover  me,  but  my  disguise 
was  too  good.  I  had  prepared  for  it  still  further,  by 
wearing  a  wig  of  light  hair  ,  he  asked  me  some  questions, 
and  I  replied  in  a  surly,  dogged  tone,  which  satisfied  him. 
The  reward  was  two  hundred  pounds,  to  be  shared 
between  us ;  and,  as  it  was  considered  advisable  that  we 
should  not  be  seen  after  the  affair  was  over,  by  the  people 
about  the  place,  we  had  the  horses  provided  for  us.  The 
rest  you  well  know.  I  was  willing  to  make  sure  that  it 
was  you  before  I  struck  the  scoundrel,  and  the  first 
glimpse  from  the  lantern,  and  your  voice,  convinced  me. 


246  Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father 

Thank  God,  Japhet,  but  I  have  been  of  some  use  to  you, 
at  all  events." 

**  My  dear  Tim,  you  have  indeed,  and  you  know  me  too 
well  to  think  I  shall  ever  forget  it ;  but  now  I  must  first 
ascertain  where  the  will  of  the  late  Sir  William  is  to  be 
found.  We  can  read  it  for  a  shilling,  and  then  I  may 
discover  what  are  the  grounds  of  Melchior's  conduct,  for, 
to  me,  it  is  still  inexplicable." 

"  Are  wills  made  in  Ireland  registered  here,  or  at 
Doctor's  Commons  in  London  ? " 

**  In  Dublin,  I  should  imagine." 

But  on  my  arrival  at  Dublin  I  felt  so  ill,  that  I  was 
obliged  to  retire  to  bed,  and  before  morning  I  was  in  a 
violent  fever.  Medical  assistance  was  sent  for,  and  I  was 
nursed  by  Timothy  with  the  greatest  care,  but  it  was  ten 
days  before  I  could  quit  my  bed.  For  the  first  time,  I 
was  sitting  in  an  easy  chair  by  the  fire,  when  Timothy 
came  in  with  the  little  portmanteau  I  had  left  in  the  care 
of  Mrs  M*Shane.  "  Open  it,  Timothy,"  said  I,  "  and  see 
if  there  be  anything  in  the  way  of  a  note  from  them. 
Timothy  opened  the  portmanteau,  and  produced  one, 
which  was  lying  on  the  top.  It  was  from  Kathleen,  and 
as  follows : — 

Dear  Sir, — They  say  there  is  terrible  work  at  the 
castle,  and  that  Sir  Henry  has  blown  out  his  brains,  or  cut 
his  throat,  I  don't  know  which.  Mr  M'Dermott  passed 
in  a  great  hurry,  but  said  nothing  to  anybody  here.  I 
will  send  you  word  of  what  has  taken  place  as  soon  as  I 
can.  The  morning  after  you  went  away,  I  walked  up  to 
the  castle  and  gave  the  key  to  the  lady,  who  appeared  in 
a  great  fright  at  Sir  Henry  not  having  been  seen  for  so 
long  a  while.  They  wished  to  detain  me  after  they  had 
found  him  in  the  cellar  with  the  dead  man,  but  after  two 
hours  I  was  desired  to  go  away,  and  hold  my  tongue.  It 
was  after  the  horses  went  back  that  Sir  Henry  is  said  to 
have  destroyed  himself.  I  went  up  to  the  castle,  but 
M^Dermott  had  given  orders  for  no  one  to  be  let  in  on 
any  account.  Yours*  Kathleen  M'Shane. 


Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father  247 

"  This  is  news  indeed,"  said  I,  handing  the  letter  to 
Timothy.  "  It  must  have  been  my  threatening  letter 
which  has  driven  him  to  this  mad  act." 

**  Very  likely,"  replied  Timothy ;  "  but  it  was  the  best 
thing  the  scoundrel  could  do,  after  all." 

"  The  letter  was  not,  however,  written,  with  that 
intention.  I  wished  to  frighten  him,  and  have  justice 
done  to  little  Fleta — poor  child !  how  glad  I  shall  be  to 
see  her ! " 


Chapter    XLIX 

Another  investigation  relative  to  a  child  v^hich  in  the  same  way  as  the 
former  one,  ends  by  the  Lady  going  off  in  a  fit. 

The  next  day  the  newspapers  contained  a  paragraph,  in 
which  Sir  Henry  de  Clare  was  stated  to  have  committed 
suicide.  No  reason  could  be  assigned  for  this  rash  act, 
was  the  winding  up  of  the  intelligence.  I  also  received 
another  letter  from  Kathleen  M*Shane,  confirming  the 
previous  accounts  ;  her  mother  had  been  sent  for  to  assist 
in  laying  out  the  body.  There  was  now  no  further  doubt, 
and  as  soon  as  I  could  venture  out,  I  hastened  to  the 
proper  office,  where  I  read  the  will  of  the  late  Sir  William. 
It  was  very  short,  merely  disposing  of  his  personal  property 
to  his  wife,  and  a  few  legacies ;  for,  as  I  discovered,  only  a 
small  portion  of  the  estates  were  entailed  with  the  title,  and 
the  remainder  was  not  only  to  the  heirs  male,  but  the 
eldest  female,  should  there  be  no  male  heir,  with  the 
proviso,  that  should  she  marry,  the  husband  was  to  take 
upon  himself  the  name  of  De  Clare.  Here,  then,  was  the 
mystery  explained,  and  why  Melchior  had  stolen  away  his 
brother's  child.  Satisfied  with  my  discovery,  I  determined 
to  leave  for  England  immediately,  find  out  the  dowager 
Lady  de  Clare,  and  put  the  whole  case  into  the  hands  of 
Mr  Masterton.  Fortunately,  Timothy  had  money  with 
him  sufficient  to  pay  all  expenses,  and  take  us  to  London, 


248  Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father 

or  I  should  have  been  obliged  to  wait  for  remittances,  as 
mine  was  all  expended  before  I  arrived  at  Dublin.  We 
arrived  safe,  and  I  immediately  proceeded  to  my  house, 
where  I  found  Harcourt,  who  had  been  in  great  anxiety 
about  me.  The  next  morning  I  went  to  my  old  legal 
friend,  to  whom  I  communicated  all  that  had  happened. 

"  Well  done,  Newland,"  replied  he,  after  I  had  finished. 
"  I'll  bet  ten  to  one  that  you  find  out  your  father.  Your 
life  already  would  not  make  a  bad  novel.  If  you  continue 
your  hairbreadth  adventures  in  this  way,  it  will  be  quite 
interesting." 

Although  satisfied  in  my  own  mind  that  I  had  discovered 
Fleta's  parentage,  and  anxious  to  impart  the  joyful  intelli- 
gence, I  resolved  not  to  see  her  until  everything  should  be 
satisfactorily  arranged.  The  residence  of  the  dowager 
Lady  de  Clare  was  soon  discovered  by  Mr  Masterton ;  it 
was  at  Richmond,  and  thither  he  and  I  proceeded.  We 
were  ushered  into  the  drawing-room,  and,  to  my  delight, 
upon  her  entrance,  I  perceived  that  it  was  the  same 
beautiful  person  in  whose  ears  I  had  seen  the  coral  and 
gold  ear-rings  matching  the  necklace  belonging  to  Fleta. 
considered  it  better  to  allow  Mr  Masterton  to  break  the 
subject. 

"  You  are,  madam,  the  widow  of  the  late  Sir  William  de 
Clare."  The  lady  bowed.  "  You  will  excuse  me,  madam, 
but  I  have  most  important  reasons  for  asking  you  a  few 
questions,  which  otherwise  may  appear  to  be  intrusive. 
Are  you  aware  of  the  death  of  his  brother.  Sir  Henry  de 
Clare  ?  " 

"  Indeed  I  was  not,"  replied  she.  **  I  seldom  look  at  a 
paper,  and  I  have  long  ceased  to  correspond  with  any  one 
in  Ireland.     May  I  ask  you  what  occasioned  his  death  ?  " 

"  He  fell  by  his  own  hands,  madam." 

Lady  de  Clare  covered  up  her  face.  **  God  forgive  him  !  " 
said  she,  in  a  low  voice. 

"  Lady  de  Clare,  upon  what  terms  were  your  husband 
and  the  late  Sir  Henry  ?     It  is  important  to  know." 

"  Not  on  the  very  best,  sir.     Indeed,  latterly,  for  years. 


Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father  249 

they  never  met  or  spoke :  we  did  not  knov/  what  had 
become  of  him." 

"  Were  there  any  grounds  for  ill-will  ?  " 

**  Many,  sir,  on  the  part  of  the  elder  brother  ;  but  none 
on  that  of  Sir  Henry,  who  was  treated  with  every  kindness, 

until   he "   Lady   de    Clare    stopped — —    "  until    he 

behaved  very  ill  to  him." 

As  we  afterwards  discovered,  Henry  de  Clare  had 
squandered  away  the  small  portion  left  him  by  his  father, 
and  had  ever  after  that  been  liberally  supplied  by  his  eldest 
brother,  until  he  had  attempted  to  seduce  Lady  de  Clare, 
upon  which  he  was  dismissed  for  ever. 

'*  And  now,  madam,  I  must  revert  to  a  painful  subject. 
You  had  a  daughter  by  your  marriage  ? " 

"  Yes,"  replied  the  lady,  with  a  deep  sigh. 

"  How  did  you  lose  her  ?  Pray  do  not  think  I  am 
creating  this  distress  on  your  part  without  strong  reasons." 

**  She  was  playing  in  the  garden,  and  the  nurse,  who 
thought  it  rather  cold,  ran  in  for  a  minute  to  get  a 
handkerchief  to  tie  round  her  neck.  When  the  nurse  re- 
turned, the  child  had  disappeared."  Lady  de  Clare  put 
her  handkerchief  up  to  her  eyes. 

"  Where  did  you  find  her  afterwards  ?  " 

*^  It  was  not  until  three  weeks  afterwards  that  her  body 
was  found  in  a  pond  about  a  quarter  of  a  mile  off." 

"  Did  the  nurse  not  seek  her  when  she  discovered  that 
she  was  not  in  the  garden  ?  " 

"  She  did,  and  immediately  ran  in  that  direction.  It  is 
quite  strange  that  the  child  could  have  got  so  far  without 
the  nurse  perceiving  her." 

**  How  long  is  it  ago  ?  " 

"  It  is  now  nine  years." 

**  And  the  age  of  the  child  at  the  time  ?  " 

**  About  six  years  old." 

"  I  think,  Newland,  you  may  now  speak  to  Lady  de 
Clare." 

"  Lady  de  Clare,  have  you  not  a  pair  of  ear-rings  of  coral 
and  gold  of  very  remarkable  workmanship  ?  " 


^50  Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father 

"  I  have,  sir,"  replied  she,  with  surprise. 

"  Had  you  not  a  necklace  of  the  same  ?  and  if  so,  will 
you  do  me  the  favour  to  examine  this  ?  "  I  presented  the 
necklace. 

** Merciful  heaven  ! "  cried  Lady  de  Clare,  "it  is  the 
very  necklace  ! — it  was  on  my  poor  Cecilia  when  she  was 
drowned,  and  it  was  not  found  with  the  body.  How  came 
it  into  your  possession,  sir  ?  At  one  time,"  continued  Lady 
de  Clare,  weeping,  "  I  thought  that  it  was  possible  that  the 
temptation  of  the  necklace,  which  has  a  great  deal  of  gold 
in  it,  must,  as  it  was  not  found  on  her  corpse,  have  been 
an  inducement  for  the  gipsies,  who  were  in  the  neighbour- 
hood, to  drown  her ;  but  Sir  "William  would  not  believe 
it,  rather  supposing  that  in  her  struggles  in  the  water  she 
must  have  broken  it,  and  that  it  had  thus  been  detached 
from  her  neck.  Is  it  to  return  this  unfortunate  necklace 
that  you  have  come  here  ?  " 

"No,  madam,  not  altogether.  Had  you  two  white 
ponies  at  the  time  ?  " 

"  Yes,  sir." 

"  Was  there  a  mulberry  tree  in  the  garden  ? " 

**  Yes,  sir,"  replied  the  astonished  lady. 

**  Will  you  do  me  the  favour  to  describe  the  appearance 
of  your  child  as  she  was,  at  the  time  that  you  lost 
her?" 

"  She  was — but  all  mothers  are  partial,  and  perhaps  I 
may  also  be  so — a  very  fair,  lovely  little  girl." 

"  With  light  hair,  I  presume  ?  " 

"  Yes,  sir.  But  why  these  questions  ?  Surely  you 
cannot  ask  them  for  nothing,"  continued  she  hurriedly. 
"  Tell  me,  sir,  why  all  these  questions  ? " 

Mr  Masterton  replied,  "  Because,  madam,  we  have  some 
hopes  that  you  have  been  deceived,  and  that  it  is  possible 
that  your  daughter  was  not  drowned." 

Lady  de  Clare,  breathless,  and  her  mouth  open,  fixed 
her  eyes  upon  Mr  Masterton,  and  exclaimed,  "  Not 
drowned  !  O  my  God  !  my  head  !  "  and  then  she  fell  back 
insensible. 


Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father  251 

**  I  have  been  too  precipitate,"  said  Mr  Masterton,  going 
to  her  assistance  ;  **  but  joy  does  not  kill.  Ring  for  some 
water,  Japhet." 


Chapter  L 

In  which,  if  the  reader  does  not  sympathise  with  the  parties,  he  had  better 
shut  the  book. 

In  a  few  minutes  Lady  de  Clare  was  sufficiently  recovered 
to  hear  the  outline  of  our  history ;  and  as  soon  as  it  was 
over,  she  insisted  upon  immediately  going  with  us  to  the 
school  where  Fleta  was  domiciled,  as  she  could  ascertain, 
by  several  marks  known  but  to  a  nurse  or  mother,  if  more 
evidence  was  required,  whether  Fleta  was  her  child  or  not. 
To  allow  her  to  remain  in  such  a  state  of  anxiety  was 

impossible,  Mr  Masterton  agreed,  and  we  posted  to , 

where  we  arrived  in  the  evening.  **Now,  gentlemen, 
leave  me  but  one  minute  with  the  child,  and  when  I  ring 
the  bell,  you  may  enter."  Lady  de  Clare  was  in  so 
nervous  and  agitated  a  state,  that  she  could  not  walk 
into  the  parlour  without  assistance.  We  led  her  to  a  chair, 
and  in  a  minute  Fleta  was  called  down.  Perceiving  me  in 
the  passage,  she  ran  to  me.  **  Stop,  my  dear  Fleta,  there 
is  a  lady  in  the  parlour,  who  wishes  to  see  you." 

"  A  lady,  Japhet  ? " 

**  Yes,  my  dear,  go  in." 

Fleta  obeyed,  and  in  a  minute  we  heard  a  scream,  and 
Fleta  hastily  opened  the  door,  "  Quick !  quick !  the  lady 
has  fallen  down." 

We  ran  in  and  found  Lady  de  Clare  on  the  floor,  and  it 
was  some  time  before  she  returned  to  her  senses.  As 
soon  as  she  did,  she  fell  down  on  her  knees,  holding  up 
her  hands  as  in  prayer,  and  then  stretched  her  arms  out 
to  Fleta.  "  My  child  !  my  long-lost  child !  it  is — it  is 
indeed ! "  A  flood  of  tears  poured  forth  on  Fleta's  neck 
relieved  her,  and  we  then  left  them  together  j  old  Master- 


252  Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father 

ton  observing,  as  we  took  our  seats  in  the  back  parlour, 

« By    G ,    Japhet,   you   deserve   to   find    your    own 

father !  " 

In  about  an  hour  Lady  de  Clare  requested  to  see  us. 
Fleta  rushed  into  my  arms  and  sobbed,  while  her  mother 
apologised  to  Mr  Masterton  for  the  delay  and  excusable 
neglect  towards  him.  "  Mr  Newland,  madam,  is  the 
person  to  whom  you  are  indebted  for  your  present 
happiness.  I  will  now,  if  you  please,  take  my  leave,  and 
will  call  upon  you  to-morrow." 

"  I  will  not  detain  you,  Mr  Masterton  ;  but  Mr  Newland 
will,  I  trust,  come  home  with  Cecilia  and  me ;  I  have  much 
to  ask  of  him."  I  consented,  and  Mr  Masterton  went  back 
to  town ;  I  went  to  the  principal  hotel  to  order  a  chaise 
and  horses,  while  Fleta  packed  up  her  wardrobe. 

In  half  an  hour  we  set  off,  and  it  was  midnight  before 
we  arrived  at  Richmond.  During  my  journey  I  narrated 
to  Lady  de  Clare  every  particular  of  our  meeting  with 
Fleta.  We  were  all  glad  to  go  to  bed,  and  the  kind 
manner  in  which  Lady  de  Clare  wished  me  good-night, 
with  "  God  bless  you,  Mr  Newland  !  "  brought  the  tears 
into  my  eyes. 

I  breakfasted  alone  the  next  morning.  Lady  de  Clare 
and  her  daughter  remaining  up  stairs.  It  was  nearly 
twelve  o'clock  when  they  made  their  appearance,  both 
so  apparently  happy,  that  I  could  not  help  thinking, 
*'When  shall  I  have  such  pleasure — when  shall  I  find 
out  who  is  my  father  ? "  My  brow  was  clouded  as  the 
thought  entered  my  mind,  when  Lady  de  Clare  requested 
that  I  would  inform  her  who  it  was  to  whom  she  and 
her  daughter  were  under  such  eternal  obligations.  I  had 
then  to  relate  my  own  eventful  history,  most  of  which 
was  as  new  to  Cecilia  (as  she  now  must  be  called)  as  it 
was  to  her  mother.  I  had  just  terminated  the  escape  from 
the  castle,  when  Mr  Masterton's  carriage  drove  up  to  the 
door.  As  soon  as  he  had  bowed  to  Lady  de  Clare,  he 
said  to  me,  "  Japhet,  here  is  a  letter  directed  to  you,  to 
my  care,  from  Ireland,  which  I  have  brought  for  you." 


Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father  253 

"  It  is  from  Kathleen  M'Shane,  sir,"  replied  I,  and 
requesting  leave,  I  broke  the  seal.  It  contained  another. 
I  read  Kathleen's,  and  then  hastily  opened  the  other.  It 
was  from  Nattee,  or  Lady  H.  de  Clare,  and  ran  as 
follows  : — 

"Japhet  Newland,  —  Fleta  is  the  daughter  of  Sir 
William  de  Clare.  Dearly  has  my  husband  paid  for  his 
act  of  folly  and  wickedness,  and  to  which  you  must  know 
I  never  was  a  party. 

"  Yours, 

"Nattee." 

The  letter  from  Kathleen  added  more  strange  informa- 
tion. Lady  de  Clare,  after  the  funeral  of  her  husband, 
had  sent  for  the  steward,  made  every  necessary  arrange- 
ment, discharged  the  servants,  and  then  had  herself 
disappeared,  no  one  knew  whither ;  but  it  was  reported 
that  somebody  very  much  resembling  her  had  been  seen 
travelling  south  in  company  with  a  gang  of  gipsies.  I 
handed  both  letters  over  to  Lady  de  Clare  and  Mr 
Masterton. 

"  Poor  Lady  de  Clare  ! "  observed  the  mother. 

"Nattee  will  never  leave  her  tribe,"  observed  Cecilia 
quietly. 

"  You  are  right,  my  dear,"  replied  I.  "  She  will  be 
happier  with  her  tribe  where  she  commands  as  a  queen, 
than  ever  she  was  at  the  castle." 

Mr  Masterton  then  entered  into  a  detail  with  Lady  de 
Clare  as  to  what  steps  ought  immediately  to  be  taken, 
as  the  heirs-at-law  would  otherwise  give  some  trouble; 
and  having  obtained  her  acquiescence,  it  was  time  to 
withdraw.  "Mr  Newland,  I  trust  you  will  consider 
us  as  your  warmest  friends.  I  am  so  much  in  your  debt, 
that  I  never  can  repay  you ;  but  I  am  also  in  your  debt 
in  a  pecuniary  way — that,  at  least,  you  must  permit  me 
to  refund." 

"  When  I  require  it,  Lady  de  Clare,  I  will  accept  it. 


2  54  Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father 

Do  not,  pray,  vex  me  by  the  proposition.  I  have  not 
much  happiness  as  it  is,  although  I  am  rejoiced  at  yours 
and  that  of  your  daughter." 

"  Come,  Lady  de  Clare,  I  must  not  allow  you  to  tease 
my  protege,  you  do  not  know  how  sensitive  he  is.  We 
will  now  take  our  leave." 

**  You  will  come  soon,"  said  Cecilia,  looking  anxiously 
at  me. 

"  You  have  your  mother,  Cecilia,"  replied  I ;  "  what 
can  you  wish  for  more  ?  I  am  a — nobody — without  a 
parent." 

Cecilia  burst  into  tears;  I  embraced  her,  and  Mr 
Masterton  and  I  left  the  room. 


Chapter  LI 

I  return  to  the  gay  world,  but  am  not  well  received ;  I  am  quite  disgusted 
with  it  and  honesty,  and  everything  else. 

How  strange,  now  that  I  had  succeeded  in  the  next 
dearest  object  of  my  wishes,  after  ascertaining  my  own 
parentage,  that  I  should  have  felt  so  miserable ;  but  it 
was  the  fact,  and  I  cannot  deny  it.  I  could  hardly  answer 
Mr  Masterton  during  our  journey  to  town;  and  when 
I  threw  myself  on  the  sofa  in  my  own  room,  I  felt  as 
if  I  was  desolate  and  deserted.  I  did  not  repine  at 
Cecilia's  happiness ;  so  far  from  it,  I  would  have  sacrificed 
my  life  for  her ;  but  she  was  a  creature  of  my  own — 
one  of  the  objects  in  this  world  to  which  I  was  endeared — 
one  that  had  been  dependent  on  me  and  loved  me.  Now 
that  she  was  restored  to  her  parent,  she  rose  above  me, 
and  I  was  left  still  more  desolate.  I  do  not  know  that 
I  ever  passed  a  week  of  such  misery  as  the  one  which 
followed  a  denouement  productive  of  so  much  happiness 
to  others,  and  which  had  been  sought  with  so  much 
eagerness,  and  at  so  much  risk,  by  myself.  It  was  no 
feeling  of  envy,  God  knows ;   but  it  appeared  to  me  as 


Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father  255 

if  everyone  in  the  world  was  to  be  made  happy  except 
myself.     But  I  had  more  to  bear  up  against. 

When  I  had  quitted  for  Ireland,  it  was  still  supposed 
that  I  was  a  young  man  of  large  fortune — the  truth  had 
not  been  told.  I  had  acceded  to  Mr  Masterton's  sugges- 
tions, that  I  was  no  longer  to  appear  under  false  colours, 
and  had  requested  Harcourt,  to  whom  I  made  known 
my  real  condition,  that  he  would  everywhere  state  the 
truth.  News  like  this  flies  like  wildfire ;  there  were 
too  many  whom,  perhaps,  when  under  the  patronage  of 
Major  Carbonnell,  and  the  universal  rapture  from  my 
supposed  wealth,  I  had  treated  with  hauteur,  glad  to 
receive  the  intelligence,  and  spread  it  far  and  wide.  My 
imposition^  as  they  pleased  to  term  it,  was  the  theme  of 
every  party,  and  many  were  the  indignant  remarks  of 
the  dowagers  who  had  so  often  indirectly  proposed  to 
me  their  daughters ;  and  if  there  was  anyone  more  virulent 
than  the  rest,  I  hardly  need  say  that  it  was  Lady  Maelstrom, 
who  nearly  killed  her  job  horses  in  driving  about  from 
one  acquaintance  to  another,  to  represent  my  unheard-of 
atrocity  in  presuming  to  deceive  my  betters.  Harcourt, 
who  had  agreed  to  live  with  me — Harcourt,  who  had 
praised  my  niagnanimity  in  making  the  disclosure — even 
Harcourt  fell  off;  and  about  a  fortnight  after  I  had 
arrived  in  town,  told  me  that  not  finding  the  lodgings 
so  convenient  as  his  former  abode,  he  intended  to  return 
to  it.  He  took  a  friendly  leave ;  but  I  perceived  that 
if  we  happened  to  meet  in  the  streets,  he  often  contrived 
to  be  looking  aiK>ther  way ;  and  at  last,  a  slight  recognition 
was  all  that  I  received.  Satisfied  that  it  was  intended, 
I  no  longer  noticed  him;  he  followed  but  the  example 
of  others.  So  great  was  the  outcry  raised  by  those  who 
had  hoped  to  have  secured  me  as  a  good  match,  that  any 
young  man  of  fashion  who  was  seen  with  me,  had,  by 
many,  his  name  erased  from  their  visiting  lists.  This 
decided  my  fate,  and  I  was  alone.  For  some  time  I  bore 
up  proudly ;  I  returned  a  glance  of  defiance,  but  this 
could  not  last.     The  treatment  of  others  received  a  slight 


25^  Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father 

check  from  the  kindness  of  Lord  Windermear,  who  re- 
peatedly asked  me  to  his  table ;  but  I  perceived  that  even 
there,  although  suffered  as  a  protege  of  his  lordship, 
anything  more  than  common  civility  was  studiously 
avoided,  in  order  that  no  intimacy  might  result.  Mr 
Masterton,  upon  whom  I  occasionally  called,  saw  that 
I  was  unwell  and  unhappy.  He  encouraged  me ;  but, 
alas !  a  man  must  be  more  than  mortal,  who,  with  fine 
feelings,  can  endure  the  scorn  of  the  world.  Timothy, 
poor  fellow,  who  witnessed  more  of  my  unhappy  state 
of  mind  than  anybody  else,  offered  in  vain  his  consolation. 
"And  this,"  thought  I,  "is  the  reward  of  virtue  and 
honesty.  Truly,  virtue  is  its  own  reward,  for  it  obtains 
no  other.  As  long  as  I  was  under  false  colours,  allowing 
the  world  to  deceive  themselves,  I  was  courted  and 
flattered.  Now  that  I  have  thrown  off  the  mask,  and 
put  on  the  raiment  of  truth,  I  am  a  despised,  miserable 
being.  Yes ;  but  is  not  this  my  own  fault  ?  Did  I  not, 
by  my  own  deception,  bring  all  this  upon  myself? 
Whether  unmasked  by  others,  or  by  myself,  is  it  not 
equally  true  that  I  have  been  playing  false,  and  am  now 
punished  for  it  ?  What  do  the  world  care  for  your 
having  returned  to  truth  ?  You  have  offended  by  de- 
ceiving them,  and  that  is  an  offence  which  your  repent- 
ance will  not  extenuate."  It  was  but  too  true,  I  had 
brought  it  all  on  myself,  and  this  reflection  increased  my 
misery.  For  my  dishonesty,  I  had  been  justly  and  severely 
punished:  whether  I  was  ever  to  be  rewarded  for  my 
subsequent  honesty  still  remained  to  be  proved;  but  I 
knew  very  well  that  most  people  would  have  written  off 
such  a  reward  as  a  bad  debt. 

Once  I  consulted  with  Mr  Masterton  as  to  the  chance 
of  there  being  any  information  relative  to  my  birth  in  the 
packet  left  in  the  charge  of  Mr  Cophagus.  "  I  have  been 
thinking  over  it,  my  dear  Newland,"  said  he,  "  and  I  wish 
I  could  give  you  any  hopes,  but  I  cannot.  Having  suc- 
ceeded with  regard  to  your  little  protege,  you  are  now 
so  sanguine  with  respect   to  yourself,  that  a  trifle  light 


Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father  257 

as  air  is  magnified,  as  the  poet  says,  *  into  confirmation 
strong  as  holy  writ.'  Now,  consider,  somebody  calls 
at  the  Foundling  to  ask  after  you — which  I  acknowledge 
to  be  a  satisfactory  point — his  name  is  taken  down  by  an 
illiterate  brute,  as  Derbennon ;  but  how  you  can  decide 
upon  the  real  name,  and  assume  it  is  De  Benyon,  is  really 
more  than  I  can  imagine,  allowing  every  scope  to  fancy. 
It  is  in  the  first  instance,  therefore,  you  are  at  fault,  as 
there  are  many  other  names  which  may  have  been  given 
by  the  party  who  called ;  nay,  more,  is  it  at  all  certain 
that  the  party,  in  a  case  like  this,  would  give  his  real 
name  ?  Let  us  follow  it  up.  Allowing  the  name  to  have 
been  De  Benyon,  you  discover  that  one  brother  is  not 
married,  and  that  there  are  some  papers  belonging  to 
him  in  the  possession  of  an  old  woman  who  dies ;  and 
upon  these  slight  grounds  what  would  you  attempt  to 
establish  ?  that  because  that  person  was  known  not  to 
have  married,  therefore  he  ivas  married  (for  you  are 
stated  to  have  been  born  in  wedlock) :  and  because  there 
is  a  packet  of  papers  belonging  to  him  in  the  possession 
of  another  party,  that  this  packet  of  papers  must  refer  to 
you.  Do  you  not  perceive  how  you  are  led  away  by 
your  excited  feelings  on  the  subject  ? " 

I  could  not  deny  that  Mr  Masterton's  arguments  had 
demolished  the  whole  fabric  which  I  had  built  up.  "  You 
are  right,  sir,"  replied  I  mournfully.  **  I  wish  I  were 
dead." 

"  Never  speak  in  that  way,  Mr  Newland,  before  me," 
replied  the  old  lawyer  in  an  angry  tone,  **  without  you 
wish  to  forfeit  my  good  opinion." 

**Ibeg  your  pardon,  sir;  but  I  am  most  miserable.  I 
am  avoided  by  all  who  know  me — thrown  out  of  all  society 
— I  have  not  a  parent  or  a  relative.  Isolated  being  as  I 
am,  what  have  I  to  live  for  ? " 

"  My  dear  fellow,  you  are  not  twenty-three  years  of 
age,"  replied  Mr  Masterton,  "  and  you  have  made  two 
sincere  friends,  both  powerful  in  their  own  way,  I  mean 
Lord  Windermear   and   myself;   and   you   have   had  the 

F  R 


^5^  Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father 

pleasure  of  making  others  happy.  Believe  me,  that  is 
much  to  have  accomplished  at  so  early  an  age.  You  have 
much  to  live  for — live  to  gain  more  friends — live  to  gain 
reputation — live  to  do  good — to  be  grateful  for  the  benefits 
you  have  received,  and  to  be  humble  when  chastened  by 
Providence.  You  have  yet  to  learn  where,  and  only 
where,  true  happiness  is  to  be  found.  Since  you  are  so 
much  out  of  spirits,  go  down  to  Lady  de  Clare's,  see  her 
happiness,  and  that  of  her  little  girl ;  and  then,  when  you 
reflect  that  it  was  your  own  work,  you  will  hardly  say 
that  you  have  lived  in  vain."  I  was  too  much  over- 
powered to  speak.  After  a  pause,  Mr  Masterton  continued, 
**  When  did  you  see  them  last  ?  " 

"  I  have  never  seen  them,  sir,  since  I  was  with  you  at 
their  meeting." 

"What !  have  you  not  called — now  nearly  two  months? 
Japhet,  you  are  wrong ;  they  will  be  hurt  at  your  neglect 
and  want  of  kindness.  Have  you  written  or  heard  from 
them?" 

**  I  have  received  one  or  two  pressing  invitations,  sir  ; 
but  I  have  not  been  in  a  state  of  mind  to  avail  myself  of 
their  politeness." 

"  Politeness  !  you  are  wrong — all  wrong,  Japhet. 
Your  mind  is  cankered,  or  you  never  would  have  used 
that  term.  I  thought  you  were  composed  of  better 
materials ;  but  it  appears,  that  although  you  can  sail  with 
a  fair  wind,  you  cannot  buffet  against  an  adverse  gale. 
Because  you  are  no  longer  fooled  and  flattered  by  the 
interested  and  the  designing,  like  many  others,  you  have 
quarrelled  with  the  world.     Is  it  not  so  ?  " 

"  Perhaps  you  are  right,  sir." 

"  I  know  that  I  am  right,  and  that  you  are  wrong. 
Now  I  shall  be  seriously  displeased  if  you  do  not  go  down 
and  see  Lady  de  Clare  and  her  daughter,  as  soon  as  you 
can." 

"  I  will  obey  your  orders,  sir." 

"  My  wishes,  Japhet,  not  my  orders.  Let  me  see  you 
when  you  return.    You  must  no  longer  be  idle.    Consider, 


Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father  259 

that  you  are  about  to  recommence  your  career  in  life  ;  that 
hitherto  you  have  pursued  the  wrong  path,  from  which 
you  have  nobly  returned.  You  must  prepare  for  exertions, 
and  learn  to  trust  to  God  and  a  good  conscience.  Lord 
Windermear  and  I  had  a  long  conversation  relative  to  you 
yesterday  evening ;  and  when  you  come  back,  I  will 
detail  to  you  what  are  our  views  respecting  your  future 
advantage." 

Chapter    LII 

A  new  character  appears,  but  not  a  very  amiable  one ;  but  I  attach  myself 
to  him,  as  drowning  men  catch  at  straws. 

I  TOOK  my  leave,  more  composed  in  mind,  and  the  next 
day  I  went  down  to  Lady  de  Clare's.  I  was  kindly 
received,  more  than  kindly,  I  was  affectionately  and 
parentally  received  by  the  mother,  and  by  Cecilia  as  a  dear 
brother ;  but  they  perceived  my  melancholy,  and  when 
they  had  upbraided  me  for  my  long  neglect,  they  inquired 
the  cause.  As  I  had  already  made  Lady  de  Clare  ac- 
quainted with  my  previous  history,  I  had  no  secrets  ;  in 
fact,  it  was  a  consolation  to  confide  my  griefs  to  them. 
Lord  Windermear  was  too  much  above  me — Mr  Masterton 
was  too  matter-of-fact — Timothy  was  too  inferior — and 
they  were  all  men  ;  but  the  kind  soothing  of  a  woman  was 
peculiarly  grateful,  and  after  a  sojourn  of  three  days,  I 
took  my  leave,  with  my  mind  much  less  depressed  than 
when  I  arrived. 

On  my  return,  I  called  upon  Mr  Masterton,  who  stated 
to  me  that  Lord  Windermear  was  anxious  to  serve  me, 
and  that  he  would  exert  his  interest  in  any  way  which 
might  be  most  congenial  to  my  feelings  ,  that  he  would 
procure  me  a  commission  in  the  army,  or  a  writership  to 
India ;  or,  if  I  preferred  it,  I  might  study  the  law  under 
the  auspices  of  Mr  Masterton.  If  none  of  these  proposi- 
tions suited  me,  I  might  state  what  would  be  preferred, 
and  that,  as  far  as  his   interest  and  pecuniary  assistance 


26o  Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father 

could  avail,  I  might  depend  upon  it.  **  So  now,  Japhet, 
you  may  go  home  and  reflect  seriously  upon  these  offers  ; 
and  when  you  have  made  up  your  mind  what  course  you 
will  steer,  you  have  only  to  let  me  know." 

I  returned  my  thanks  to  Mr  Masterton,  and  begged 
that  he  would  convey  my  grateful  acknowledgments  to 
his  lordship.  As  I  walked  home,  I  met  a  Captain 
Atkinson,  a  man  of  very  doubtful  character,  whom,  by 
the  advice  of  Carbonnell,  I  had  always  kept  at  a  distance. 
He  had  lost  a  large  fortune  by  gambling,  and  having 
been  pigeoned,  had,  as  is  usual,  ended  by  becoming  a 
rook.  He  was  a  fashionable,  well-looking  man,  of  good 
family,  suffered  in  society,  for  he  had  found  out  that  it 
was  necessary  to  hold  his  position  by  main  force.  He 
was  a  noted  duellist,  had  killed  his  three  or  four  men, 
and  a  cut  direct  from  any  person  was,  with  him,  sufficient 
grounds  for  sending  a  friend.  Everybody  was  civil  to 
him,  because  no  one  wished  to  quarrel  with  him. 

"  My  dear  Mr  Newland,"  said  he,  offering  his  hand, 
"  I  am  delighted  to  see  you ;  I  have  heard  at  the  clubs 
of  your  misfortune,  and  there  were  some  free  remarks 
made  by  some.  I  have  great  pleasure  in  saying  that  I 
put  an  immediate  stop  to  them,  by  telling  them  that,  if 
they  were  repeated  in  my  presence,  I  should  consider  it 
as  a  personal  quarrel." 

Three  months  before,  had  I  met  Captain  Atkinson,  I 
should  have  returned  his  bow  with  studied  politeness, 
and  have  left  him  ;  but  how  changed  were  my  feelings  ! 
I  took  his  hand,  and  shook  it  warmly. 

**  My  dear  sir,"  replied  I,  "I  am  very  much  obliged 
for  your  kind  and  considerate  conduct ;  there  are  more 
who  are  inclined  to  calumniate  than  to  defend." 

"And  always  will  be  in  this  world,  Mr  Newland  ;  but 
I  have  a  fellow  feeling.  I  recollect  how  I  was  received 
and  flattered  when  I  was  introduced  as  a  young  man  of 
fortune,  and  how  I  was  deserted  and  neglected  when  I 
was  cleaned  out.  I  know  now  why  they  are  so  civil  to 
me,   and  I  value  their  civility  at  just  as   much  as  it  is 


Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father  261 

worth.  Will  you  accept  my  arm : — I  am  going  your 
way.'* 

I  could  not  refuse  ;  but  I  coloured  when  I  took  it,  for 
I  felt  that  I  was  not  adding  to  my  reputation  by  being 
seen  in  his  company  ;  and  still  I  felt,  that  although  not 
adding  to  my  reputation,  I  was  less  likely  to  receive 
insult,  and  that  the  same  cause  which  induced  them  to 
be  civil  to  him,  would  perhaps  operate  when  they  found 
me  allied  with  him.  **  Be  it  so,"  thought  I,  "  I  will, 
if  possible,  extort  politeness." 

We  were  strolling  down  Bond  Street,  when  we  met 
a  young  man,  well  known  in  the  fashionable  circles,  who 
had  dropped  my  acquaintance,  after  having  been  formerly 
most  pressing  to  obtain  it.  Atkinson  faced  him.  "  Good 
morning,  Mr  Oxberry." 

"  Good  morning.  Captain  Atkinson,"  replied  Mr 
Oxberry. 

"I  thought  you  knew  my  friend  Mr  Newland?" 
observed  Atkinson,  rather  fiercely. 

"  Oh  !  really — I  quite — I  beg  pardon.  Good  morning, 
Mr  Newland ;  you  have  been  long  absent.  I  did  not 
see  you  at  Lady  Maelstrom's  last  night." 

"  No,"  replied  I,  carelessly,  "  nor  will  you  ever.  When 
you  next  see  her  ladyship,  ask  her,  with  my  compliments, 
whether  she  has  had  another  fainting  fit." 

"  I  shall  certainly  have  great  pleasure  in  carrying  your 
message,  Mr  Newland — good  morning." 

"  That  fool,"  observed  Atkinson,  "  will  now  run  all 
over  town,  and  you  will  see  the  consequence." 

We  met  one  or  two  others,  and  to  them  Atkinson  put 
the  same  question,  "  I  thought  you  knew  my  friend  Mr 
Newland  ? "  At  last,  just  as  we  arrived  at  my  own 
house  in  St  James's  Street,  who  should  we  meet  but 
Harcourt.  Harcourt  immediately  perceived  me,  and  bowed 
low  as  he  passed  on,  so  that  his  bow  would  have  served 
for  both ;  but  Atkinson  stopped.  "  I  must  beg  your 
pardon,  Harcourt,  for  detaining  you  a  moment,  but  what 
are  the  odds  upon  the  Vestris  colt  for  the  Derby  ? " 


2,62  Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father 

"  Upon  my  word,  Captain  Atkinson,  I  was  told,  but 
I  have  forgotten." 

"  Your  memory  appears  bad,  for  you  have  also  for- 
gotten your  old  friend,  Mr  Newland." 

"  I  beg  your  pardon,  Mr  Newland." 

"There  is  no  occasion  to  beg  my  pardon,  Mr  Harcourt," 
interrupted  I ;  "for  I  tell  you  plainly,  that  I  despise  you 
too  much  to  ever  wish  to  be  acquainted  with  you.  You 
will  oblige  me,  sir,  by  never  presuming  to  touch  your 
hat,  or  otherwise  notice  me." 

Harcourt  coloured,  and  started  back.  "  Such  language, 
Mr  Newland " 

"  Is  what  you  deserve ;  ask  your  own  conscience. 
Leave  us,  sir ; "  and  I  walked  on  with  Captain  Atkinson. 

"You  have  done  well,  Newland,"  observed  Atkinson; 
"  he  cannot  submit  to  that  language,  for  he  knows  that 
I  have  heard  it.  A  meeting  you  will  of  course  have  no 
objection  to.  It  will  be  of  immense  advantage  to 
you." 

"None  whatever,"  replied  I;  "for  if  there  is  any  one 
man  who  deserves  to  be  punished  for  his  conduct  towards 
me,  it  is  Harcourt.  Will  you  come  up.  Captain  Atkinson ; 
and,  if  not  better  engaged,  take  a  quiet  dinner  and  a 
bottle  of  wine  with  me  ?  " 

Our  conversation  during  dinner  was  desultory,  but 
after  the  first  bottle,  Atkinson  became  communicative, 
and  his  history  not  only  made  me  feel  better  inclined 
towards  him,  but  afforded  me  another  instance,  as  well 
as  Carbonnell's,  how  often  it  is  that  those  who  would 
have  done  well,  are  first  plundered,  and  then  driven  to 
desperation  by  the  heartlessness  of  the  world.  The  cases, 
however,  had  this  difference,  that  Carbonnell  had  always 
contrived  to  keep  his  reputation  above  water,  while  that 
of  Atkinson  was  gone,  and  never  to  be  re-established. 
We  had  just  finished  our  wine  when  a  note  was  brought 
from  Harcourt,  informing  me  that  he  should  send  a  friend 
the  next  morning  for  an  explanation  of  my  conduct. 
I  handed  it  over  to  Atkinson.      "My  dear  sir,   I  am  at 


Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father  263 

your  service,"  replied  he,  "without  you  have  anybody 
among  your  acquaintances  whom  you  may  prefer." 

"  Thank  you,"  replied  I,  "  Captain  Atkinson  ;  it  cannot 
be  in  better  hands." 

"  That  is  settled,  then ;  and  now  where  shall  we 
go?" 

"Wherever  you  please." 

"Then  I  shall  try  if  I  can  win  a  little  money  to-night ; 
if  you  come  you  need  not  play — you  can  look  on.  It 
'will  serve  to  divert  your  thoughts,  at  all  events." 

I  felt  so  anxious  to  avoid  reflection,  that  I  immediately 
accepted  his  offer,  and,  in  a  few  minutes,  we  were  in 
the  well-lighted  room,  and  in  front  of  the  rouge  et  noir 
table,  covered  with  gold  and  bank  notes.  Atkinson  did 
not  commence  his  play  immediately,  but  pricked  the 
chances  on  a  card  as  they  ran.  After  half  an  hour  he 
laid  down  his  stakes,  and  was  fortunate.  I  could  no 
longer  withstand  the  temptation,  and  I  backed  him ;  in 
less  than  an  hour  we  both  had  won  considerably. 

"That  is  enough,"  said  he  to  me,  sweeping  up  his 
money ;  "  we  must  not  try  the  slippery  dame  too  long." 

I  followed  his  example,  and  shortly  afterwards  we 
quitted  the  house.  "I  will  walk  home  with  you, 
Newland  ;  never,  if  you  can  help  it,  especially  if  you 
have  been  a  winner,  leave  a  gaming  house  alone." 

Going  home,  I  asked  Atkinson  if  he  would  come  up ; 
he  did  so,  and  then  we  examined  our  winnings.  "I 
know  mine,"  replied  he,  "  within  twenty  pounds,  for 
I  always  leave  off  at  a  certain  point.  I  have  three 
hundred  pounds,  and  something  more." 

He  had  won  three  hundred  and  twenty-five  pounds. 
I  had  won  ninety  pounds.  As  we  sat  over  a  glass  of 
brandy  and  water,  I  inquired  whether  he  was  always 
fortunate.  "  No,  of  course  I  am  not,"  replied  Atkinson ; 
"but  on  the  whole,  in  the  course  of  the  year  I  am  a 
winner  of  sufficient  to  support  myself." 

"  Is  there  any  rule  by  which  people  are  guided  who 
play  }     I  observed  many  of  those  who  were  seated,  prick- 


264  Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father 

ing  the  chances  with  great  care,  and  then  staking  their 
money  at  intervals." 

"  Rouge  et  noir  I  believe  to  be  the  fairest  of  all  games," 
replied  Atkinson ;  "  but  where  there  is  a  per  centage 
invariably  in  favour  of  the  bank,  although  one  may  win 
and  another  lose,  still  the  profits  must  be  in  favour  of 
the  bank.  If  a  man  were  to  play  all  the  year  round,  he 
would  lose  the  national  debt  in  the  end.  As  for  martin- 
gales, and  all  those  calculations,  which  you  observed 
them  so  busy  with,  they  are  all  useless.  I  have  tried 
everything,  and  there  is  only  one  chance  of  success,  but 
then  you  must  not  be  a  gambler P 

"Not  a  gambler?" 

"No ;  you  must  not  be  carried  away  by  the  excitement 
of  the  game,  or  you  will  infallibly  lose.  You  must  have 
a  strength  of  mind  which  few  have,  or  you  will  be  soon 
cleaned  out." 

**  But  you  say  that  you  win  on  the  whole  j  have  you 
no  rule  to  guide  you  ? " 

"  Yes,  I  have ;  strange  as  the  chances  are,  I  have  been 
so  accustomed  to  them,  that  I  generally  put  down  my 
stake  right ;  when  I  am  once  in  a  run  of  luck,  I  have 
a  method  of  my  own,  but  what  it  is  I  cannot  tell ;  only 
this  I  know,  that  if  I  depart  from  it,  I  always  lose  my 
money.  But  that  is  what  you  may  call  good  luck,  or 
what  you  please — it  is  not  a  rule." 

"Where,  then,  are  your  rules  ?  " 

"  Simply  these  two.  The  first  it  is  not  difficult  to 
adhere  to  :  I  make  a  rule  never  to  lose  but  a  certain 
sum  if  I  am  unlucky  when  I  commence — say  twenty 
stakes,  whatever  may  be  the  amount  of  the  stake  that 
you  play.  This  rule  is  easily  adhered  to,  by  not  taking 
more  money  with  you  •,  and  I  am  not  one  of  those  to 
whom  the  croupier  or  porters  will  lend  money.  The 
second  rule  is  the  most  difficult,  and  decides  whether 
you  are  a  gambler  or  not.  I  make  a  rule  always  to 
leave  off  when  I  have  won  a  certain  sum — or  even  before, 
if    the   chances   of    my  game   fluctuate.      There   is   the 


Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father  265 

difficulty ;  it  appears  very  foolish  not  to  follow  up  luck, 
but  the  fact  is,  fortune  is  so  capricious,  that  if  you  trust 
her  more  than  an  hour,  she  will  desert  you.  This  is 
my  mode  of  play,  and  with  me  it  answers ;  but  it  does 
not  follow  that  it  would  answer  with  another.  But  it 
is  very  late,  or  rather,  very  early — I  wish  you  a  good- 
night." 

Chapter  LIII 

I  become  principal  instead  of  second  in  a  duel,  and  risk  my  own  and 
another's  life,  my  own  and  others'  happiness  and  peace  of  mind,  because 
I  have  been  punished  as  I  deserved. 

After  Captain  Atkinson  had  left  me,  I  stated  to  Timothy 
what  had  passed.  "  And  do  you  think  you  will  have  to 
fight  a  duel,  sir  ?  "  cried  Timothy  with  alarm. 

"  There  is  no  doubt  of  it,"  replied  I. 

**  You  never  will  find  your  father,  sir,  if  you  go  on  this 
way,"  said  Timothy,  as  if  to  divert  my  attention  from  such 
a  purpose. 

"  Not  in  this  world,  perhaps,  Tim  ;  perhaps  I  may  be 
sent  the  right  road  by  a  bullet,  and  find  him  in  the  next." 

"Do  you  think  your  father,  if  dead,  has  gone  to 
heaven  ? " 

"  I  hope  so,  Timothy." 

**Then  what  chance  have  you  of  meeting  him,  if  you 
go  out  of  the  world  attempting  the  life  of  your  old 
friend?" 

**That  is  what  you  call  a  poser,  my  dear  Timothy,  but 
I  cannot  help  myself;  this  I  can  safely  say,  that  I  have  no 
animosity  against  Mr  Harcourt — at  least,  not  sufficient  to 
have  any  wish  to  take  away  his  life." 

"  Well,  that's  something,  to  be  sure  ;  but  do  you  know, 
Japhet,  I'm  not  quite  sure  you  hit  the  right  road  when 
you  set  up  for  a  gentleman." 

"  No,  Timothy,  no  man  can  be  in  the  right  road  who 
deceives  ;  I  have  been  all    wrong ;  and  I  am  afraid  I  am 


266  Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father 

going  from  worse  to  worse :  but  I  cannot  moralise,  I  must 
go  to  sleep,  and  forget  everything  if  I  can." 

The  next  morning,  about  eleven  o'clock,  a  Mr  Cotgrave 
called  upon  me  on  the  part  of  Harcourt.  I  referred  him 
to  Captain  Atkinson,  and  he  bowed  and  quitted  the  room. 
Captain  Atkinson  soon  called  ;  he  had  remained  at  home 
expecting  the  message,  and  had  made  every  arrangement 
with  the  second.  He  stayed  with  me  the  whole  day  ; 
the  Major's  pistols  were  examined  and  approved  of;  we 
dined,  drank  freely,  and  he  afterwards  proposed  that  I 
should  accompany  him  to  one  of  the  hells,  as  they  are 
called.  This  I  refused,  as  I  had  some  arrangements  to 
make ;  and  as  soon  as  he  was  gone  I  sent  for  Timothy. 

"  Tim,"  said  I,  "  if  I  should  be  unlucky  to-morrow, 
you  are  my  executor  and  residuary  legatee.  My  will 
was  made  when  in  Dublin,  and  is  in  the  charge  of  Mr 
Cophagus." 

"  Japhet,  I  hope  you  will  allow  me  one  favour,  which 
is,  to  go  to  the  ground  with  you.  I  had  rather  be  there 
than  remain  here  in  suspense." 

"  Of  course,  my  dear  fellow,  if  you  wish  it,"  replied  I ; 
**  but  I  must  go  to  bed,  as  I  am  to  be  called  at  four  o'clock 
—  so  let's  have  no  sentimentalising  or  sermonising. 
Good-night,  God  bless  you." 

I  was,  at  that  time,  in  a  state  of  mind  which  made  me 
reckless  of  life  or  of  consequences ;  stung  by  the  treat- 
ment which  I  received,  mad  with  the  world's  contumely, 
I  was  desperate.  True  it  was,  as  Mr  Masterton  said,  I 
had  not  courage  to  buffet  against  an  adverse  gale. 
Timothy  did  not  go  to  bed,  and  at  four  o'clock  was  at 
my  side.  I  rose,  dressed  myself  with  the  greatest  care, 
and  was  soon  joined  by  Captain  Atkinson.  We  then  set 
off  in  a  hackney-coach  to  the  same  spot  to  which  I  had, 
but  a  few  months  before,  driven  with  poor  Carbonnell. 
His  memory  and  his  death  came  like  a  cloud  over  my 
mind,  but  it  was  but  for  a  moment.  I  cared  little  for 
life.  Harcourt  and  his  second  were  on  the  ground  a  few 
minutes  before  us.     Each  party  saluted  politely,  and  the 


Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father  267 

seconds  proceeded  to  business.  We  fired,  and  Harcourt 
fell,  with  a  bullet  above  his  knee.  I  went  up  to  him,  and 
he  extended  his  hand.  *'Newland,"  said  he,  "I  have 
deserved  this.  I  was  a  coward,  in  the  first  place,  to  desert 
you  as  I  did — and  a  coward,  in  the  second,  to  fire  at  a 
man  whom  I  had  injured.  Gentlemen,"  continued  he, 
appealing  to  the  seconds,  "  recollect,  I,  before  you,  acquit 
Mr  Newland  of  all  blame,  and  desire,  if  any  further 
accident  should  happen  to  me,  that  my  relations  will  take 
no  steps  whatever  against  him." 

Harcourt  was  very  pale,  and  bleeding  fast.  Without 
any  answer  I  examined  the  wound,  and  found,  by  the 
colour  of  the  blood,  and  its  gushing,  that  an  artery  had 
been  divided.  My  professional  knowledge  saved  his  life. 
I  compressed  the  artery,  while  I  gave  directions  to  the 
others.  A  handkerchief  was  tied  tight  round  his  thigh, 
above  the  wound — a  round  stone  selected,  and  placed 
under  the  handkerchief,  in  the  femoral  groove,  and  the 
ramrod  of  one  of  the  pistols  then  made  use  of  as  a  winch, 
until  the  whole  acted  as  a  tourniquet.  I  removed  my 
thumbs,  found  that  the  hemorrhage  was  stopped,  and  then 
directed  that  he  should  be  taken  home  on  a  door,  and 
surgical  assistance  immediately  sent  for. 

"  You  appear  to  understand  these  things,  sir,"  said  Mr 
Cotgrave.     "  Tell  me,  is  there  any  danger  ?  " 

"  He  must  suffer  amputation,"  replied  I,  in  a  low  voice, 
so  that  Harcourt  could  not  hear  me.  "Pray  watch  the 
tourniquet  carefully  as  he  is  taken  home,  for  should  it  slip 
it  will  be  fatal." 

I  then  bowed  to  Mr  Cotgrave,  and,  followed  by  Captain 
Atkinson,  stepped  into  the  hackney-coach  and  drove  home. 
"  I  will  leave  you  now,  Newland,"  said  Captain  Atkinson ; 
**it  is  necessary  that  I  talk  this  matter  over,  so  that  it  is 
properly  explained." 

I  thanked  Captain  Atkinson  for  his  services,  and  was 
left  alone  ;  for  I  had  sent  Timothy  to  ascertain  if  Harcourt 
had  arrived  safe  at  his  lodgings.  Never  did  I  feel  more 
miserable ,    my  anxiety  for   Harcourt  was  indescribable ; 


268  Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father 

true,  he  had  not  treated  me  well,  but  I  thought  of  his 
venerable  father,  who  pressed  my  hand  so  warmly  when 
I  left  his  hospitable  roof — of  his  lovely  sisters,  and  the 
kindness  and  affection  which  they  had  shown  towards  me, 
and  our  extreme  intimacy.  I  thought  of  the  pain  which 
the  intelligence  would  give  them,  and  their  indignation 
towards  me,  when  their  brother  first  made  his  appearance 
at  his  father's  house,  mutilated ;  and  were  he  to  die — good 
God !  I  was  maddened  at  the  idea.  I  had  now  undone 
the  little  good  I  had  been  able  to  do.  If  I  had  made  Fleta 
and  her  mother  happy,  had  I  not  plunged  another  family 
into  misery  ? 

Chapter  LIV 

This  is  a  strange  world  ;  I  am  cut  by  a  man  of  no  character,  because  he  is 
fearful  that  I  should  injure  his  character. 

Timothy  returned,  and  brought  me  consolation  —  the 
bleeding  had  not  re-commenced,  and  Harcourt  was  in 
tolerable  spirits.  An  eminent  surgeon  had  been  sent  for. 
"  Go  again,  my  dear  Timothy,  and  as  you  are  intimate 
with  Harcourt's  servant,  you  will  be  able  to  find  out 
what  they  are  about." 

Timothy  departed,  and  was  absent  about  an  hour, 
during  which  I  lay  on  the  sofa,  and  groaned  with  anguish. 
When  he  returned,  I  knew  by  his  face  that  his  intelligence 
was  favourable. 

"  All's  right,"  cried  Timothy ;  **  no  amputation  after 
all.  It  was  only  one  of  the  smaller  arteries  which  was 
severed,  and  they  have  taken  it  up." 

I  sprang  up  from  the  sofa  and  embraced  Timothy, 
so  happy  was  I  with  the  intelligence,  and  then  I  sat  down 
again,  and  cried  like  a  child.  At  last  I  became  more 
composed.  I  had  asked  Captain  Atkinson  to  dine  with  me, 
and  was  very  glad  when  he  came.  He  confirmed 
Timothy's  report,  and  I  was  so  overjoyed,  that  I  sat  late 
at    dinner,    drinking    very   freely,   and    when    he    again 


Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father  269 

proposed  that  we  should  go  to  the  rouge  et  noir  table,  I  did 
not  refuse — on  the  contrary,  flushed  with  wine,  I  was 
anxious  to  go,  and  took  all  the  money  that  I  had  with  me. 
On  our  arrival  Atkinson  played,  but  finding  that  he  was 
not  fortunate,  he  very  soon  left  off.  As  I  had  followed 
his  game,  I  also  had  lost  considerably,  and  he  entreated 
me  not  to  play  any  more — but  /  ijuas  a  gamester  it  appeared, 
and  I  would  not  pay  attention  to  him,  and  did  not  quit  the 
table  until  I  had  lost  every  shilling  in  my  pocket.  I  left 
the  house  in  no  very  good  humour,  and  Atkinson,  who  had 
waited  for  me,  accompanied  me  home. 

"  Newland,"  said  he,  "  I  don't  know  what  you  may 
think  of  me — you  may  have  heard  that  I'm  a  roue,  &c.  &c. 
&c.,  but  this  I  always  do,  which  is,  caution  those  who  are 
gamesters  from  their  hearts.  I  have  watched  you  to-night, 
and  I  tell  you,  that  you  will  be  ruined  if  you  continue 
to  frequent  that  table.  You  have  no  command  over  your- 
self. I  do  not  know  what  your  means  may  be,  but  this 
I  do  know,  that  if  you  were  a  Croesus,  you  would  be  a 
beggar.  I  cared  nothing  for  you  while  you  were  the  Mr 
Newland,  the  admired,  and  leader  of  the  fashion,  but  I 
felt  for  you  when  I  heard  that  you  were  scouted  from 
society,  merely  because  it  was  found  out  that  you  were 
not  so  rich  as  you  were  supposed  to  be.  I  had  a  fellow- 
feeling,  as  I  told  you.  I  did  not  make  your  acquaintance 
to  win  your  money — I  can  win  as  much  as  I  wish  from 
the  scoundrels  who  keep  the  tables,  or  from  those  who 
would  not  scruple  to  plunder  others ;  and  I  now  entreat 
you  not  to  return  to  that  place — and  am  sorry,  very  sorry, 
that  ever  I  took  you  there.  To  me,  the  excitement 
is  nothing — to  you,  it  is  overpowering.  You  are  a 
gamester,  or  rather,  you  have  it  in  your  disposition.  Take, 
therefore,  the  advice  of  a  friend,  if  I  may  so  call  myself, 
and  do  not  go  there  again.  I  hope  you  are  not  seriously 
inconvenienced  by  what  you  have  lost  to-night." 

" Not  the  least,"  replied  I.  "It  was  ready  money.  I 
thank  you  for  your  advice,  and  will  follow  it.  I  have 
been  a  fool  to-night,  and  one  folly  is  sufficient." 


270  Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father 

Atkinson  then  left  me.  I  had  lost  about  two  hundred 
and  fifty  pounds,  which  included  my  winnings  of  the 
night  before.  I  was  annoyed  at  it,  but  I  thought  of 
Harcourt's  safety,  and  felt  indifferent.  The  reader  may 
recollect,  that  I  had  three  thousand  pounds,  which  Mr 
Masterton  had  offered  to  put  out  at  mortgage  for  me,  but 
until  he  could  find  an  opportunity,  by  his  advice  I  had 
bought  stock  in  the  three  per  cents.  Since  that  he  had 
not  succeeded,  as  mortgages  in  general  are  for  larger  sums, 
and  it  had  therefore  remained.  My  rents  were  not  yet 
due,  and  I  was  obliged  to  have  recourse  to  this  money.  I 
therefore  went  into  the  city,  ordered  the  broker  to  sell 
out  two  hundred  pounds,  intending  to  replace  it  as  soon 
as  I  could — for  I  would  not  have  liked  that  Mr  Masterton 
should  have  known  that  I  had  lost  money  by  gambling. 
When  I  returned  from  the  city,  I  found  Captain  Atkinson 
in  my  apartments,  waiting  for  me. 

"  Har court  is  doing  well,  and  you  are  not  doing  badly. 
I  have  let  all  the  world  know  that  you  intend  to  call  out 
whoever  presumes  to  treat  you  with  indifference." 

"  The  devil  you  have  !  but  that  is  a  threat  which  may 
easier  be  made  than  followed  up  by  deeds." 

"  Shoot  two  or  three  more,"  replied  Atkinson,  coolly, 
*'  and  then,  depend  upon  it,  you'll  have  it  all  your  own 
way.  As  it  is,  I  acknowledge  there  has  been  some  show 
of  resistance,  and  they  talk  of  making  a  resolution  not 
to  meet  you,  on  the  score  of  your  being  an  impostor." 

"  And  a  very  plausible  reason,  too,"  replied  I;  "  nor  do 
I  think  I  have  any  right — I  am  sure  I  have  no  intention 
of  doing  as  you  propose.  Surely,  peopJe  have  a  right  to 
choose  their  acquaintance,  and  to  cut  me,  if  they  think  I 
have  done  wrong.  I  am  afraid.  Captain  Atkinson,  you 
have  mistaken  me ;  I  have  punished  Harcourt  for  his 
conduct  towards  me — deserved  punishment.  I  had  claims 
on  him  ;  but  I  have  not  upon  the  hundreds,  whom,  when 
in  the  zenith  of  my  popularity,  I  myself,  perhaps,  was  not 
over  courteous  to.  I  cannot  run  the  muck  which  you 
propose,  nor  do  I  consider  that  I  shall  help  my  character 


Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father  271 

by  so  doing.  I  may  become  notorious,  but  certainly, 
I  shall  not  obtain  that  species  of  notoriety  which  will  be  of 
service  to  me.  No,  no ;  I  have  done  too  much,  I  may 
say,  already ;  and,  although  not  so  much  to  blame  as  the 
world  imagines,  yet  my  own  conscience  tells  me,  that  by 
allowing  it  to  suppose  that  I  was  what  I  was  not,  I  have,  to 
say  the  least,  been  a  party  to  the  fraud,  and  must  take  the 
consequence.  My  situation  now  is  very  unpleasant, 
and  I  ought  to  retire,  and,  if  possible,  re-appear  with  real 
claims  upon  the  public  favour.  I  have  still  friends,  thank 
God  !  and  influential  friends.  I  am  offered  a  writership 
in  India — a  commission  in  the  army — or  to  study  the  law. 
Will  you  favour  me  with  your  opinion  ?  " 

**  You  pay  me  a  compliment  by  asking  my  advice.  A 
writership  in  India  is  fourteen  years'  transportation,  return- 
ing with  plenty  to  live  on  but  no  health  to  enjoy  it.  In 
the  army  you  might  do  well,  and  moreover,  as  an  officer  in 
the  army,  none  dare  refuse  to  go  out  with  you.  At  the 
same  time,  under  your  peculiar  circumstances,  I  think  if 
you  were  in  a  crack  regiment  you  would,  in  all  probability, 
have  to  fight  one  half  the  mess,  and  be  put  in  Coventry  by 
the  other.  You  must  then  exchange  on  half-pay,  and 
your  commission  would  be  a  great  help  to  you.  As  for 
the  law — I'd  sooner  see  a  brother  of  mine  in  his  coffin. 
There,  you  have  my  opinion." 

"  Not  a  very  encouraging  one,  at  all  events,"  replied  I, 
laughing  ;  "  but  there  is  much  truth  in  your  observations. 
To  India  I  will  not  go,  as  it  will  interfere  with  the  great 
object  of  my  existence." 

**  And  pray,  if  it  be  no  secret,  may  I  ask  what  that  is  ? " 

**  To  find  out  who  is  my  father  ^^ 

Captain  Atkinson  looked  very  hard  at  me.  **I  more 
than  once,"  said  he,  "  have  thought  you  a  little  cracked, 
but  now  I  perceive  you  are  mad — downright  mad;  don't  be 
angry,  I  couldn't  help  saying  so,  and  if  you  wish  me  to  give 
you  satisfaction,  I  shall  most  unwillingly  be  obliged." 

"  No,  no,  Atkinson,  I  believe  you  are  not  very  far  wrong, 
and  I  forgive  you — but  to  proceed.     The  army,  as  you  say. 


272  Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father 

will  give  me  a  position  in  society,  from  my  profession 
being  that  of  a  gentleman,  but  as  I  do  not  wish  to  take  the 
advantage  which  you  have  suggested  from  the  position,  I 
shrink  from  putting  myself  into  one  which  may  lead  to 
much  mortification.  As  for  the  law,  although  I  do  not 
exactly  agree  with  you  in  your  abhorrence  of  the  profes- 
sion, yet  I  must  say,  that  I  do  not  like  the  idea.  I  have 
been  rendered  unfit  for  it  by  my  life  up  to  the  present. 
But  I  am  permitted  to  select  any  other." 

"Without  wishing  to  pry  into  your  affairs,  have  you 
sufficient  to  live  upon  ? " 

"  Yes,  in  a  moderate  way ;  about  a  younger  brother's 
portion,  which  will  just  keep  me  in  gloves,  cigars,  and  eau 
de  cologne." 

"  Then  take  my  advice  and  be  nothing.  The  only  differ- 
ence I  can  see  between  a  gentleman  and  anybody  else,  is 
that  one  is  idle  and  the  other  works  hard.  One  is  a  use- 
less, and  the  other  a  useful,  member  of  society.  Such  is 
the  absurdity  of  the  opinions  of  the  world." 

"  Yes,  I  agree  with  you,  and  would  prefer  being  a 
gentleman  in  that  respect,  and  do  nothing,  if  they  would 
admit  me  in  every  other ;  but  that  they  will  not  do.  I  am 
in  an  unfortunate  position." 

"  And  will  be  until  your  feelings  become  blunted  as 
mine  have  been,"  replied  Atkinson.  "  Had  you  acquiesced 
in  my  proposal,  you  would  have  done  better.  As  it  is,  I 
can  be  of  no  use  to  you  ;  nay,  without  intending  an  affront, 
I  do  not  know  if  we  ought  to  be  seen  together,  for  your 
decision  not  to  Jight  your  way  is  rather  awkward,  as  I  can- 
not back  one  with  my  support  who  will  not  do  credit  to  it. 
Do  not  be  angry  at  what  I  say ;  you  are  your  own  master, 
and  have  a  right  to  decide  for  yourself, — if  you  think 
yourself  not  so  wholly  lost  as  to  be  able  eventually  to 
recover  yourself  by  other  means,  I  do  not  blame  you,  as  I 
know  it  is  only  from  an  error  in  judgment,  and  not  from 
want  of  courage." 

"  At  present  I  am,  I  acknowledge,  lost.  Captain  Atkin- 
son ;  but  if  I  succeed  m  finding  my  father " 


Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father  273 

**  Good  morning,  Newland,  good  morning,"  replied  he, 
hastily.  "  I  see  how  it  is  ;  of  course  we  shall  be  civil  to  each 
other  when  we  meet,  for  I  wish  you  well,  but  we  must  not 
be  seen  together,  or  you  may  injure  my  character." 

"  Injure  your  character,  Captain  Atkinson  ?  " 

"  Yes,  Mr  Newland,  injure  my  character.  I  do  not  mean 
to  say  but  that  there  are  characters  more  respectable,  but  I 
have  a  character  which  suits  me,  and  it  has  the  merit  of 
consistency.  As  you  are  not  prepared,  as  the  Americans 
say,  to  go  the  ivhole  hog,  we  will  part  good  friends,  and  if  I 
have  said  anything  to  annoy  you,  I  beg  your  pardon." 

"  Good-bye,  then,  Captain  Atkinson ;  for  the  kindness  you 
have  shown  me  I  am  grateful."  He  shook  my  hand,  and 
walked  out  of  the  room.  **  And  for  having  thus  broken 
up  our  acquaintance,  more  grateful  still,"  thought  I,  as  he 
went  down  stairs. 


Chapter    LV 

I  cut  my  new  acquaintance,  but  his  company,  even  in  so  short  a  time, 
proves  my  ruin — notwithstanding  I  part  with  all  my  property,  I  retain 
my  honesty. 

In  the  meantime,  the  particulars  of  the  duel  had  found 
their  way  into  the  papers,  with  various  comments,  but 
none  of  them  very  flattering  to  me,  and  I  received  a  note 
from  Mr  Masterton,  who,  deceived  by  the  representations 
of  that  class  of  people  who  cater  for  newspapers,  and  who 
are  but  too  glad  to  pull,  if  they  possibly  can,  every  one  to 
their  own  level,  strongly  animadverted  upon  my  conduct, 
and  pointed  out  the  folly  of  it  5  adding,  that  Lord 
Windermear  wholly  coincided  with  him  in  opinion,  and 
had  desired  him  to  express  his  displeasure.  He  concluded 
by  observing,  "  I  consider  this  to  be  the  most  serious  false 
step  which  you  have  hitherto  made.  Because  you  have 
been  a  party  to  deceiving  the  public,  and  because  one 
individual,  who  had  no  objection  to  be  intimate  with  a 
F  s 


274  Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father 

young  man  of  fashion,  station,  and  affluence,  does  not  wisn 
to  continue  the  acquaintance  with  one  of  unknown  birth 
and  no  fortune,  you  consider  yourself  justified  in  taking 
his  Hfe.  Upon  this  principle,  ail  society  is  at  an  end,  all 
distinctions  levelled,  and  the  rule  of  the  gladiator  will  only 
be  overthrown  by  the  stiletto  of  the  assassin." 

I  was  but  ill  prepared  to  receive  this  letter.  I  had  been 
deeply  thinking  upon  the  kind  offers  of  Lord  Winder- 
mear,  and  had  felt  that  they  would  interfere  with  the 
primum  mobile  of  my  existence,  and  I  was  reflecting  by  what 
means  I  could  evade  their  kind  intentions,  and  be  at  liberty 
to  follow  my  own  inclinations,  when  this  note  arrived. 
To  me  it  appeared  to  be  the  height  of  injustice.  I  had 
been  arraigned  and  found  guilty  upon  an  ex  parte  statement. 
I  forgot,  at  the  time,  that  it  was  my  duty  to  have  immedi- 
ately proceeded  to  Mr  Masterton,  and  have  fully  explained 
the  facts  of  the  case ;  and  that,  by  not  having  so  done,  I 
left  the  natural  impression  that  I  had  no  defence  to  offer. 
I  forgot  all  this,  still  I  was  myself  to  blame — I  only  saw 
that  the  letter  in  itself  was  unkind  and  unjust — and  my 
feelings  were  those  of  resentment.  What  right  have  Lord 
Windermear  and  Mr  Masterton  thus  to  school  and  to  insult 
me  ?  The  right  of  obligations  conferred.  But  is  not 
Lord  Windermear  under  obligations  to  me  ?  Have  I  not 
preserved  his  secret  ?  Yes  ;  but  how  did  I  obtain  pos- 
session of  it  ?  By  so  doing,  I  was  only  making  reparation 
for  an  act  of  treachery.  Well,  then,  at  all  events,  I  have 
a  right  to  be  independent  of  them,  if  I  please — any  one 
has  a  right  to  assert  his  independence  if  he  chooses.  Their 
offers  of  service  only  would  shackle  me,  if  I  accepted  of 
their  assistance.  I  will  have  none  of  them.  Such  were 
my  reflections  ;  and  the  reader  must  perceive  that  I  was 
influenced  by  a  state  of  morbid  irritability- — a  sense  of 
abandonment  which  prostrated  me.  I  felt  that  I  was  an 
isolated  being  without  a  tie  in  the  whole  world.  I  deter- 
mined to  spurn  the  world  as  it  had  spurned  me.  To 
Timothy  I  would  hardly  speak  a  word.  I  lay  with  an 
aching   head,  aching   from   increased   circulation.     I  was 


Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father  275 

mad,  or  nearly  so.  I  opened  the  case  of  pistols,  and 
thought  of  suicide — reflection  alone  restrained  me.  I 
could  not  abandon  the  search  after  my  father. 

Feverish  and  impatient,  I  wished  to  walk  out,  but  I 
dared  not  meet  the  public  eye.  I  waited  till  dark,  and 
then  I  sallied  forth,  hardly  knowing  where  I  went.  I 
passed  the  gaming  house — I  did  pass  it,  but  I  returned 
and  lost  every  shilling  ;  not,  however,  till  the  fluctuations 
of  the  game  had  persuaded  me,  that  had  I  had  more  money 
to  carry  it  on,  I  should  have  won. 

I  went  to  bed,  but  not  to  sleep ;  I  thought  of  how  I  had 
been  caressed  and  admired,  when  I  was  supposed  to  be 
rich.  Of  what  use  then  was  the  money  I  possessed  ? 
Little  or  none.  I  made  up  my  mind  that  I  would  either 
gain  a  fortune,  or  lose  that  which  I  had.  The  next 
morning  I  went  into  the  city,  and  sold  out  all  the  remain- 
ing stock.  To  Timothy  I  had  not  communicated  my 
intentions.  I  studiously  avoided  speaking  to  him ;  he  felt 
hurt  at  my  conduct,  I  perceived,  but  I  was  afraid  of  his 
advice  and  expostulation. 

At  night-fall  I  returned  to  the  hell — played  with  various 
success ;  at  one  time  was  a  winner  of  three  times  my 
capital,  and  I  ended  at  last  with  my  pockets  being  empty. 
I  was  indifferent  when  it  was  all  gone,  although  in  the 
highest  state  of  excitement  while  the  chances  were  turning 
up. 

The  next  day  I  went  to  a  house  agent,  and  stated  my 
wish  to  sell  my  house,  for  I  was  resolved  to  try  fortune  to 
the  last.  The  agent  undertook  to  find  a  ready  purchaser, 
and  I  begged  an  advance,  which  he  made,  and  continued 
to  make,  until  he  had  advanced  nearly  half  the  value.  He 
then  found  a  purchaser  (himself,  as  I  believe)  at  two-thirds 
of  its  value.  I  did  not  hesitate,  I  had  lost  every  advance, 
one  after  another,  and  was  anxious  to  retrieve  my  fortune 
or  be  a  beggar.  I  signed  the  conveyance  and  received  the 
balance,  fifteen  hundred  and  fifty  pounds,  and  returned  to 
the  apartments,  no  longer  mine,  about  an  hour  before 
dinner.     I  called  Timothy,  and  ascertaining  the  amount  of 


276  Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father 

bills  due,  gave  him  fifty  pounds,  which  left  him  about 
fifteen  pounds  as  a  residue.  I  then  sat  down  to  my 
solitary  meal,  but  just  as  I  commenced  I  heard  a  dispute  in 
the  passage. 

"What  is  that,  Timothy  .^ "  cried  I,  for  I  was  nervous 
to  a  degree. 

"  It's  that  fellow  Emmanuel,  sir,  who  says  that  he  will 
come  up." 

"  Yesh,  I  vill  go  up,  sar." 

"  Let  him  come,  Timothy,"  replied  I.  Accordingly  Mr 
Emmanuel  ascended.  "  "Well,  Emmanuel,  what  do  you  want 
with  me  ? "  said  I,  looking  with  contempt  at  the  miserable 
creature  who  entered  as  before,  with  his  body  bent  double, 
and  his  hand  lying  over  his  back. 

'*  I  vash  a  little  out  of  breath,  Mr  Newland — I  vash 
come  to  say  dat  de  monish  is  very  scarce — dat  I  vill  accept 
your  offer,  and  vill  take  de  hundred  pounds,  and  my 
tousand  which  I  have  lent  you.  You  too  mush  gentleman 
not  to  help  a  poor  old  man,  ven  he  ish  in  distress." 

"  Rather  say,  Mr  Emmanuel,  that  you  have  heard  that  I 
have  not  ten  thousand  pounds  per  annum,  and  that  you 
are  afraid  that  you  have  lost  your  money." 

"  Loshe  my  monish  ! — no — loshe  my  tousand  pound  ! 
Did  you  not  say,  dat  you  would  pay  it  back  to  me,  and 
give  me  hundred  pounds  for  my  trouble ;  dat  vash  de  last 
arrangement." 

"  Yes,  but  you  refused  to  take  it,  so  it  is  not  my  fault. 
You  must  now  stick  to  the  first,  which  is  to  receive  fifteen 
hundred  pounds  when  I  come  into  my  fortune." 

*'  Your  fortune,  but  you  av  no  fortune." 

"  I  am  afraid  not ;  and  recollect,  Mr  Emmanuel,  that  I 
never  told  you  that  I  had." 

"Vill  you  pay  me  my  monish,  Mr  Newland,  or  vill  you 
go  to  prison  ? " 

"  You  can't  put  me  in  prison  for  an  agreement,"  re- 
plied I. 

"  No  ;  but  I  can  prosecute  you  for  a  swindler." 

"No,    you  confounded    old    rascal,   you    cannot;    try, 


Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father  277 

and  do  your  worst,"  cried  I,  enraged  at  the  word 
swindler. 

**  Veil,  Mr  Newland,  if  you  have  not  de  ten  tousand  a 
year,  you  have  de  house  and  de  monish ;  you  vill  not  cheat 
a  poor  man  like  me." 

"  I  have  sold  my  house." 

"  You  have  sold  de  house — den  you  have  neither  de 
house  nor  de  monish.    Oh  !  my  monish,  my  monish  !    Sare, 

Mr  Newland,  you  are  one  d d  rascal ; "  and  the  old 

wretch's  frame  quivered  with  emotion ;  his  hand  behind 
his  back  shaking  as  much  as  the  other  which,  in  his  rage, 
he  shook  in  my  face. 

Enraged  myself  at  being  called  such  an  opprobrious 
term,  I  opened  the  door,  twisted  him  round,  and  applying 
my  foot  to  a  nameless  part,  he  flew  out  and  fell  down 
the  stairs,  at  the  turning  of  which  he  lay,  groaning  in 
pain. 

"  Mine  Got,  mine  Got,  I  am  murdered !  "  cried  he. 
"  Fader  Abraham,  receive  me."  My  rage  was  appeased, 
and  I  turned  pale  at  the  idea  of  having  killed  the  poor 
wretch.  With  the  assistance  of  Timothy,  whom  I  sum- 
moned, we  dragged  the  old  man  upstairs,  and  placed  him 
in  a  chair,  and  found  that  he  was  not  very  much  hurt.  A 
glass  of  wine  was  given  to  him,  and  then,  as  soon  as  he 
could  speak,  his  ruling  passion  broke  out  again.  "  Mishter 
Newland — ah,  Mish-ter  New-land,  cannot  you  give  me  my 
monish — cannot  you  give  me  de  tousand  pound,  without 
de  interest  ?  you  are  very  welcome  to  de  interest.  I  only 
lend  it  to  oblige  you." 

"How  can  you  expect  a  d d  rascal  to  do  any  such 

thing  ?  "  replied  I. 

"  D d  rascal !     Ah  !    it  vash  I  who  vash  a  rascal, 

and  vash  a  fool  to  say  the  word.  Mishter  Newland,  you 
vash  a  gentleman,  you  vill  pay  me  my  monish.  You  vill 
pay  me  part  of  my  monish.  I  have  de  agreement  in  my 
pocket,  all  ready  to  give  up." 

*'  If  I  have  not  the  money,  how  can  I  pay  you  ? " 

"  Fader  Abraham,  if  you  have  not  de  monish — you  must 


278  Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father 

have  some  monish;  den  you  will  pay  me  a  part.  How 
much  vill  you  pay  me  ? " 

**Will  you  take  five  hundred  pounds,  and  return  the 
agreement  ? " 

"  Five  hundred  pounds — lose  half — oh  !  Mr  Newland — 
it  was  all  lent  in  monish,  not  in  goods  ;  you  will  not  make 
me  lose  so  much  as  dat  ? " 

"  I'm  not  sure  that  I  will  give  you  five  hundred  pounds  ; 
your  bond  is  not  worth  twopence,  and  you  know  it." 

"  Your  honour,  Mishter  Newland,  is  worth  more  dan 
ten  tousand  pounds :  but  if  you  have  not  de  monish,  den 
you  shall  pay  me  de  five  hundred  pounds  which  you  offer, 
and  I  will  give  up  de  paper." 

"  I  never  offered  five  hundred  pounds." 

**Not  offer;  but  you  mention  de  sum,  dat  quite 
enough." 

"  Well  then,  for  five  hundred  pounds,  you  will  give  up 
the  paper  ?  " 

"  Yes ;  I  vash  content  to  loshe  all  de  rest,  to  please 
you." 

I  went  to  my  desk,  and  took  out  five  hundred  pounds 
in  notes.  "Now,  there  is  the  money,  which  you  may  put 
your  hands  on  when  you  give  up  the  agreement."  The 
old  man  pulled  out  the  agreement  and  laid  it  on  the  table, 
catching  up  the  notes.  I  looked  at  the  paper  to  see  if  it 
was  all  right,  and  then  tore  it  up.  Emmanuel  put  the 
notes,  with  a  heavy  sigh,  into  his  inside  coat  pocket,  and 
prepared  to  depart.  "Now,  Mr  Emmanuel,  I  will  show 
that  I  have  a  little  more  honour  than  you  think  for.  This 
is  all  the  money  I  have  in  the  world,"  said  I,  taking  out  of 
my  desk  the  remaining  thousand  pounds,  "  and  half  of  it 
I  give  to  you,  to  pay  you  the  whole  money  which  you 
lent  me.  Here  is  five  hundred  pounds  more,  and  now  we 
are  quits." 

The  eyes  of  the  old  man  were  fixed  upon  me  in 
astonishment,  and  from  my  face  they  glanced  upon  the 
notes ;  he  could,  to  use  a  common  expression,  neither 
believe  his  eyes  nor  his  ears.     At  last  he  took  the  money, 


Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father  279 

again  unbuttoned  and  pulled  out  his  pocket-book,  and 
with  a  trembling  hand  stowed  them  away  as  before. 

"  You  vash  a  very  odd  gentleman,  Mishter  Newland," 
said  he ;  *'  you  kick  me  down  stairs,  and — but  dat  is 
noting." 

"  Good-bye,  Mr  Emmanuel,"  said  I,  "  and  let  me  eat  my 
dinner." 


Chapter   LVI 

I  resolve  to  begin  the  world  again,  and  to  seek  my  fortune  in  the  next 
path — I  take  leave  of  all  my  old  friends. 

The  Jew  retired,  and  I  commenced  my  meal,  when  the 
door  again  slowly  opened,  and  Mr  Emmanuel  crawled  up 
to  me. 

"  Mishter  Newland,  I  vash  beg  your  pardon,  but  vill  you 
not  pay  me  de  interest  of  de  monish  ?  " 

I  started  up  from  my  chair,  with  my  rattan  in  my  hand. 
"Begone,  you  old  thief,"  cried  I;  and  hardly  were  the 
words  out  of  my  mouth,  before  Mr  Emmanuel  travelled  out 
of  the  room,  and  I  never  saw  him  afterwards.  I  was 
pleased  with  myself  for  having  done  this  act  of  honesty, 
and  for  the  first  time  for  a  long  while,  I  ate  my  dinner  with 
some  zest.  After  I  had  finished,  I  took  a  twenty  pound 
note,  and  laid  it  in  my  desk,  the  remainder  of  the  five 
hundred  pounds  I  put  in  my  pocket,  to  try  my  last  chance. 
In  an  hour  I  quitted  the  hell  penniless.  When  I  returned 
home  I  had  composed  myself  a  little  after  the  dreadful 
excitement  which  I  had  been  under.  I  felt  a  calm,  and  a 
degree  of  negative  happiness.  I  knew  my  fate — there  was 
no  more  suspense.  I  sat  down  to  reflect  upon  what  I 
should  do.  I  was  to  commence  the  world  again — to  sink 
down  at  once  into  obscurity — into  poverty — and  I  felt 
happy.  I  had  severed  the  link  between  myself  and  my 
former  condition — I  was  again  a  beggar,  but  I  was 
independent — and  I  resolved  so  to  be.     I  spoke  kindly  to 


2  8o  Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father 

Timothy,  went  to  bed,  and  having  arranged  in  my  own 
mind  how  I  should  act,  I  fell  sound  asleep. 

I  never  slept  better,  or  awoke  more  refreshed.  The 
next  morning  I  packed  up  my  portmanteau,  taking  with 
me  only  the  most  necessary  articles ;  all  the  details  of  the 
toilet,  further  than  cleanliness  was  concerned,  I  abjured. 
When  Timothy  came  in,  I  told  him  that  I  was  going  down 
to  Lady  de  Clare's,  which  I  intended  to  do.  Poor  Timothy 
was  overjoyed  at  the  change  in  my  manner,  little  thinking 
that  he  was  so  soon  to  lose  me — for,  reader,  I  had  made 
up  my  mind  that  I  would  try  my  fortunes  alone  j  and, 
painful  as  I  felt  would  be  the  parting  with  so  valued  a 
friend,  I  was  determined  that  I  would  no  longer  have  even 
his  assistance  or  company.  I  was  determined  to  forget  all 
that  had  passed,  and  commence  the  world  anew.  I  sat 
down  while  Timothy  went  out  to  take  a  place  in  the  Rich- 
mond coach,  and  wrote  to  him  the  following  letter : — 

My  Dear  Timothy, — Do  not  think  that  I  undervalue 
your  friendship,  or  shall  ever  forget  your  regard  for  me, 
when  I  tell  you  that  we  shall  probably  never  meet  again. 
Should  fortune  favour  me,  I  trust  we  shall — but  of  that 
there  is  little  prospect.  I  have  lost  almost  everything  :  my 
money  is  all  gone,  my  house  is  sold,  and  all  is  gambled 
away.  I  leave  you,  with  only  my  clothes  in  my  portmanteau 
and  twenty  pounds.  For  yourself,  there  is  the  furniture, 
which  you  must  sell,  as  well  as  every  other  article  left  be- 
hind. It  is  all  yours,  and  I  hope  you  will  find  means  to 
establish  yourself  in  some  way.  God  bless  you — and 
believe  me  always  and  gratefully  yours, 

"Japhet  Newland." 

This  letter  I  reserved  to  put  in  the  post  when  I  quitted 
Richmond.     My  next  letter  was  to  Mr  Masterton. 

"  Sir,— Your  note  I  received,  and  I  am  afraid  that, 
unwittingly,  you  have  been  the  occasion  of  my  present 
condition.  That  I  did  not  deserve  the  language  addressed 
to  me,  you  may  satisfy  yourself  by  applying  to  Mr  Har- 


Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father  281 

court.  Driven  to  desperation,  I  have  lost  all  I  had  in  the 
world,  by  adding  gaming  to  my  many  follies.  I  now  am 
about  to  seek  my  fortune,  and  prosecute  my  search  after 
my  father.  You  will,  therefore,  return  my  most  sincere 
acknowledgments  to  Lord  Windermear,  for  his  kind  offers 
and  intentions,  and  assure  him  that  my  feelings  towards 
him  will  always  be  those  of  gratitude  and  respect.  For 
yourself,  accept  my  warmest  thanks  for  the  friendly  advice 
and  kind  interest  which  you  have  shown  in  my  welfare,  and 
believe  me,  when  I  say,  that  my  earnest  prayers  shall  be 
offered  up  for  your  happiness.  If  you  can,  in  any  way, 
assist  my  poor  friend,  Timothy,  who  will,  I  have  no  doubt, 
call  upon  you  in  his  distress,  you  will  confer  an  additional 
favour  on,  "  Yours,  ever  gratefully, 

"  Japhet  Newland." 

I  sealed  this  letter,  and  when  Timothy  returned,  I  told 
him  that  I  wished  him,  after  my  departure,  to  take  it  to 
Mr  Masterton's,  and  not  wait  for  an  answer.  I  then,  as  I 
had  an  hour  to  spare,  before  the  coach  started,  entered 
into  a  conversation  with  Timothy.  I  pointed  out  to  him 
the  unfortunate  condition  in  which  I  found  myself,  and  my 
determination  to  quit  the  metropolis. 

Timothy  agreed  with  me.  "  I  have  seen  you  so  un- 
happy of  late — I  may  say,  so  miserable — that  I  have  neither 
eaten  nor  slept.  Indeed,  Japhet,  I  have  laid  in  bed  and 
wept,  for  my  happiness  depends  upon  yours.  Go  where 
you  will,  I  am  ready  to  follow  and  to  serve  you,  and  as 
long  as  I  see  you  comfortable,  I  care  for  nothing  else." 

These  words  of  Timothy  almost  shook  my  resolution, 
and  I  was  near  telling  him  all ;  but  when  I  recollected,  I 
refrained.  *' My  dear  Timothy,"  said  I,  "in  this  world 
we  must  expect  to  meet  with  a  chequered  existence ;  we 
may  laugh  at  one  time,  but  we  must  cry  at  others.  I  owe 
my  life  to  you,  and  I  never  shall  forget  you,  wherever  I 
may  be." 

"  No,"  replied  Timothy,  "  you  are  not  likely  to  forget 
one  who  is  hardly  an  hour  out  of  your  sight." 


282  Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father 

"  Very  true,  Timothy ;  but  circumstances  may  occur 
which  may  separate  us." 

"  I  cannot  imagine  such  circumstances,  nor  do  I  believe, 
that  bad  as  things  may  turn  out,  that  they  will  ever  be  so 
bad  as  that.  You  have  your  money  and  your  house ; 
if  you  leave  London,  you  will  be  able  to  add  to  your 
income  by  letting  your  own  apartments  furnished,  so  we 
never  shall  want ;  and  we  may  be  very  happy  running 
about  the  world,  seeking  what  we  wish  to  find." 

My  heart  smote  me  when  Timothy  said  this,  for  I  felt, 
by  his  devotion  and  fidelity,  he  had  almost  the  same  claim 
to  the  property  I  possessed,  as  myself.  He  had  been  my 
partner,  playing  the  inferior  game,  for  the  mutual  benefit. 
"But  the  time  may  come,  Timothy,  when  we  may  find 
ourselves  without  money,  as  we  were  when  we  first 
commenced  our  career,  and  shared  threepence  half-penny 
each,  by  selling  the  old  woman  the  embrocation." 

"Well,  sir,  and  let  it  come.  I  should  be  sorry  for 
you,  but  not  for  myself,  for  then  Tim  would  be  of  more 
importance,  and  more  useful,  than  as  valet  with  little  or 
nothing  to  do." 

I  mentally  exclaimed,  *I  have,  I  think  I  have,  been  a 
fool,  a  great  fool,  but  the  die  is  cast.  I  will  sow  in 
sorrow,  and  may  I  reap  a  harvest  in  joy.  I  feel,'  thought 
I  (and  I  did  feel),  *  I  feel  a  delightful  conviction,  that  we 
shall  meet  again,  and  all  this  misery  of  parting  will  be 
but  a  subject  of  future  garrulity.'  "  Yes,  Tim,"  said 
I,  in  a  loud  voice,  "  all  is  right." 

"  All's  right,  sir ;  I  never  thought  anything  was  wrong, 
except  your  annoyance  at  people  not  paying  you  the 
attention  which  they  used  to  do,  when  they  supposed  you 
a  man  of  fortune." 

"  Very  true ;  and  Tim,  recollect  that  if  Mr  Masterton 
speaks  to  you  about  me,  which  he  may  after  I  am  gone  to 
Richmond,  you  tell  him  that  before  I  left,  I  paid  that  old 
scoundrel  Emmanuel  every  farthing  that  I  had  borrowed 
of  him,  and  you  know  (and  in  fact  so  does  Mr  Masterton), 
how  it  was  borrowed." 


Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father  283 

**  Wei],  sir,  I  will,  if  he  does  talk  to  me,  but  he 
seldom  says  much  to  me." 

"  But  he  may,  perhaps,  Tim ;  and  I  wish  him  to  know 
that  I  have  paid  every  debt  I  owe  in  the  world." 

**  One  would  think  that  you  were  going  to  the  East 
Indies,  instead  of  to  Richmond,  by  the  way  you  talk." 

"No,  Tim  5  I  was  offered  a  situation  in  the  East 
Indies,  and  I  refused  it;  but  Mr  Masterton  and  I  have 
not  been  on  good  terms  lately,  and  I  wish  him  to  know 
that  I  am  out  of  debt.  You  know,  for  I  told  you  all 
that  passed  between  Emmanuel  and  myself,  how  he 
accepted  five  hundred  pounds,  and  I  paid  him  the 
thousand;  and  I  wish  Mr  Masterton  should  know  it 
too,  and  he  will  then  be  better  pleased  with  me." 

"  Never  fear,  sir,"  said  Tim,  **  I  can  tell  the  whole 
story  with  flourishes." 

"No,  Tim,  nothing  but  the  truth;  but  it  is  time  I 
should  go.  Farewell,  my  dear  fellow.  May  God  bless 
you  and  preserve  you."  And,  overcome  by  my  feelings, 
I  dropped  my  face  on  Timothy's  shoulder,  and  wept. 

"  What  is  the  matter  ?  What  do  you  mean,  Japhet  ? 
Mr  Newland — pray,  sir,  what  is  the  matter  ? " 

**  Timothy — it  is  nothing,"  replied  I,  recovering  myself, 
**  but  I  have  been  ill ;  nervous  lately,  as  you  well  know, 
and  even  leaving  the  last  and  only  friend  I  have,  I  may 
say  for  a  few  days,  annoys  and  overcomes  me." 

"Oh!  sir — dear  Japhet,  do  let  us  leave  this  house, 
and  sell  your  furniture,  and  be  off." 

"  I  mean  that  it  shall  be  so,  Tim.  God  bless  you,  and 
farewell."  I  went  downstairs,  the  hackney-coach  was  at 
the  door.  Timothy  put  in  my  portmanteau,  and  mounted 
the  box.  I  ijuept  bitterly.  My  readers  may  despise  me, 
but  they  ought  not;  let  them  be  in  my  situation,  and 
feel  that  they  have  one  sincere  faithful  friend,  and  then 
they  will  know  the  bitterness  of  parting.  I  recovered 
myself  before  I  arrived  at  the  coach,  and  shaking  hands 
with  Timothy,  I  lost  sight  of  him ;  for  how  long,  the 
reader  will  find  out  in  the  sequel  of  my  adventures. 


284  Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father 

I  arrived  at  Lady  de  Clare's,  and  hardly  need  say  that 
I  was  well  received.  They  expressed  their  delight  at 
my  so  soon  coming  again,  and  made  a  hundred  inquiries — 
but  I  was  unhappy  and  melancholy,  not  at  my  prospects, 
for  in  my  infatuation  I  rejoiced  at  my  anticipated  beggary 
— but  I  wished  to  communicate  with  Fleta,  for  so  I  still 
call  her.  Fleta  had  known  my  history,  for  she  had  been 
present  v/hen  I  had  related  it  to  her  mother,  up  to  the 
time  that  I  arrived  in  London  -,  further  than  that  she  knew 
little.  I  was  determined  that  before  I  quitted  she  should 
know  all.  I  dared  not  trust  the  last  part  to  her  when 
I  was  present,  but  I  resolved  that  I  would  do  it  in 
writing. 

Lady  de  Clare  made  no  difficulty  whatever  of  leaving 
me  with  Fleta.  She  was  now  a  beautiful  creature,  of* 
between  fifteen  and  sixteen,  bursting  into  womanhood, 
and  lovely  as  the  bud  of  the  moss-rose  ;  and  she  was 
precocious  beyond  her  years  in  intellect,  I  stayed  there 
three  days,  and  had  frequent  opportunities  of  conversing 
with  her  5  I  told  her  that  I  wished  her  to  be  acquainted 
with  my  whole  life,  and  interrogated  her  as  to  what  she 
knew  :  I  carefully  filled  up  the  chasms,  until  I  brought 
it  down  to  the  time  at  which  I  placed  her  in  the  arms  of 
her  mother.  "  And  now,  Fleta,"  said  I,  "you  have  much 
more  to  learn — you  will  learn  that  much  at  my  departure. 
I  have  dedicated  hours  every  night  in  writing  it  out ;  and, 
as  you  will  find,  have  analysed  my  feelings,  and  have 
pointed  out  to  you  where  I  have  been  wrong.  I  have 
done  it  for  my  amusement,  as  it  may  be  of  service  even 
to  a  female." 

On  the  third  day  I  took  my  leave,  and  requesting  the 

pony  chaise  of  Lady  de  Clare,  to  take  me  over  to , 

that  I  might  catch  the  first  coach  that  went  westward,  for 
I  did  not  care  which  ;  I  put  into  Fleta's  hands  the  packet 
which  I  had  written,  containing  all  that  had  passed,  and  I 
bid  her  farewell. 

"  Lady  de  Clare,  may  you  be  happy,"  said  L  "  Fleta 
— Cecilia,  I  should  say,  may  God  bless  and  preserve  you, 


Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father  285 

and  sometimes  think  of  your  sincere  friend,  Japhet 
Newland." 

"  Really,  Mr  Newland,"  said  Lady  de  Clare,  **  one 
would  think  we  were  never  to  see  you  again." 

"  I  hope  that  will  not  be  the  case,  Lady  de  Clare,  for  I 
know  nobody  to  whom  I  am  more  devoted." 

"  Then,  sir,  recollect  we  are  to  see  you  very  soon." 

I  pressed  her  ladyship's  hand,  and  left  the  house. 
Thus  did  I  commence  my  second  pilgrimage. 


Chapter  LVII 

My  new  career  is  not  very  prosperous  at  its  commencement — I  am  robbed, 
and  accused  of  being  a  robber — I  bind  up  wounds,  and  am  accused  of 
having  inflicted  them — I  get  into  a  horse-pond,  and  out  of  it  into  gaol. 

I  HAD  proceeded  half  a  mile  from  the  house,  when  I 
desired  the  servant  to  turn  into  a  cross-road  so  as  to  gain 
Brentford ;  and,  so  soon  as  I  arrived,  the  distance  being 
only  four  miles,  I  ordered  him  to  stop  at  a  public-house, 
saying  that  I  would  wait  till  the  coach  should  pass  by. 
I  then  gave  him  half-a-crown,  and  ordered  him  to  go  home. 
I  went  into  the  inn  with  my  portmanteau,  and  was  shown 
into  a  small  back  parlour ;  there  I  remained  about  half  an 
hour  reflecting  upon  the  best  plan  that  I  could  adopt. 

Leaving  the  ale  that  I  had  called  for  untasted,  I  paid 
for  it,  and,  with  the  portmanteau  on  my  shoulder,  I  walked 
away  until  I  arrived  at  an  old  clothes'  shop.  I  told  the 
Jew  who  kept  it,  that  I  required  some  clothes,  and  also 
wanted  to  dispose  of  my  own  portmanteau  and  all  my 
effects.  I  had  a  great  rogue  to  deal  with  5  but  after  much 
chaffering,  for  I  now  felt  the  value  of  money,  I  purchased 
from  him  two  pair  of  corduroy  trousers,  two  waistcoats, 
four  common  shirts,  four  pairs  of  stockings,  a  smock  frock, 
a  pair  of  high-lows,  and  a  common  hat.  For  these  I  gave 
up  all  my  portmanteau,  with  the   exception   of  six  silk 


286  Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father 

handkerchiefs,  and  received  fifty  shillings,  when  I  ought 
to  have  received,  at  least,  ten  pounds ;  but  I  could  not 
well  help  myself,  and  I  submitted  to  the  extortion.  I 
dressed  myself  in  my  more  humble  garments,  securing  my 
money  in  the  pocket  of  my  trousers  unobserved  by  the 
Jew,  made  up  a  bundle  of  the  rest,  and  procured  a  stick 
from  the  Jew  to  carry  it  on,  however  not  without  paying 
him  threepence  for  it,  he  observing  that  the  stick  "  wash 
not  in  de  bargain."  Thus  attired,  I  had  the  appearance 
of  a  countryman  well  to  do,  and  I  set  off  through  the  long 
dirty  main  street  of  Brentford,  quite  undecided  and 
indifferent  as  to  the  direction  I  should  take.  I  walked 
about  a  mile,  when  I  thought  that  it  was  better  to  come 
to  some  decision  previous  to  my  going  farther;  and 
perceiving  a  bench  in  front  of  a  public-house,  I  went  to 
it  and  sat  down.  I  looked  around,  and  it  immediately 
came  to  my  recollection  that  I  was  sitting  on  the  very 
bench  on  which  Timothy  and  I  had  stopped  to  eat  our 
meal  of  pork,  at  our  first  outset  upon  our  travels.  Yes, 
it  was  the  very  same  !  Here  sat  I,  and  there  sat  Timothy, 
two  heedless  boys,  with  the  paper  containing  the  meat, 
the  loaf  of  bread,  and  the  pot  of  beer  between  us.  Poor 
Timothy !  I  conjured  up  his  unhappiness  when  he  had 
received  my  note  acquainting  him  with  our  future 
separation.  I  remembered  his  fidelity,  his  courage  in 
defence,  and  his  preservation  of  my  life  in  Ireland,  and  a 
tear  or  two  coursed  down  my  cheek. 

I  remained  some  time  in  a  deep  reverie,  during  which 
the  various  circumstances  and  adventures  of  my  life  were 
passed  in  a  rapid  panorama  before  me.  I  felt  that  I  had 
little  to  plead  in  my  own  favour,  much  to  condemn — that 
I  had  passed  a  life  of  fraud  and  deceit.  I  also  could  not 
forget  that  when  I  had  returned  to  honesty,  I  had  been 
scouted  by  the  world.  "And  here  I  am,"  thought  I, 
"  once  more  with  the  world  before  me ;  and  it  is  just  that 
I  should  commence  again,  for  I  started  in  a  wrong  path. 
At  least,  now  I  can  satisfactorily  assert  that  I  am  deceiving 
nobody,  and  can  deservedly  receive  no  contumely.     I  am 


Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father  287 

Japhet  Newland,  and  not  in  disguise."  I  felt  happy  with 
this  reflection,  and  made  a  determination,  whatever  my 
future  lot  might  be,  that,  at  least,  I  would  pursue  the 
path  of  honesty.  I  then  began  to  reflect  upon  another 
point,  which  was,  whither  I  should  bend  my  steps,  and 
what  I  should  do  to  gain  my  livelihood. 

Alas  !  that  was  a  subject  of  no  little  difficulty  to  me. 
A  person  who  has  been  brought  up  to  a  profession 
naturally  reverts  to  that  profession — but  to  what  had  I 
been  brought  up  ?  As  an  apothecary — true  ;  but  I  well 
knew  the  difficulty  of  obtaining  employment  in  what  is 
termed  a  liberal  profession,  without  interest  or  recom- 
mendation ;  neither  did  I  wish  for  close  confinement,  as 
the  very  idea  was  irksome.  As  a  mountebank,  a  juggler, 
a  quack  doctor — I  spurned  the  very  idea.  It  was  a  system 
of  fraud  and  deceit.  What  then  could  I  do  ?  I  could  not 
dig,  to  beg  I  was  ashamed.  I  must  trust  to  the  chapter  of 
accidents,  and  considering  how  helpless  I  was,  such  trust 
was  but  a  broken  reed.  At  all  events,  I  had  a  sufficient 
sum  of  money,  upwards  of  twenty  pounds,  to  exist  upon 
with  economy  for  some  time. 

I  was  interrupted  by  a  voice  calling  out,  "  Hilloa !  my 
lad,  come  and  hold  this  horse  a  moment."  I  looked  up 
and  perceived  a  person  on  horseback  looking  at  me. 
"  Do  you  hear,  or  are  you  stupid  ?  "  cried  the  man.  My 
first  feeling  was  to  knock  him  down  for  his  impertinence, 
but  my  bundle  lying  beside,  reminded  me  of  my  situation 
and  appearance,  and  I  rose  and  walked  towards  the  horse. 
The  gentleman,  for  such  he  was  in  appearance,  dismounted, 
and  throwing  the  rein  on  the  horse's  neck,  told  me  to  stand 
by  him  for  half  a  minute.  He  went  into  a  respectable- 
looking  house  opposite  the  inn,  and  remained  nearly  half 
an  hour,  during  which  I  was  becoming  very  impatient,  and 
kept  an  anxious  eye  upon  my  bundle,  which  lay  on  the 
seat.  At  last  he  came  out,  and  mounting  his  horse  looked 
in  my  face  with  some  degree  of  surprise.  "  Why,  what 
are  you  ? "  said  he,  as  he  pulled  out  a  sixpence,  and 
tendered  it  to  me. 


288  Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father 

I  was  again  nearly  forgetting  myself,  affronted  at  the 
idea  of  sixpence  being  offered  to  me  ;  but  I  recovered 
myself,  saying,  as  I  took  it,  "A  poor  labouring  man,  sir." 

"  What,  with  those  hands  ? "  said  he,  looking  at  them 
as  I  took  the  money ;  and  then  looking  at  my  face,  he 
continued,  "  I  think  we  have  met  before,  my  lad — I  cannot 
be  sure  ;  you  know  best — I  am  a  Bow  Street  magistrate." 

In  a  moment,  I  remembered  that  he  was  the  very  magis- 
trate before  whom  I  had  twice  made  my  appearance. 
I  coloured  deeply,  and  made  no  reply. 

"Well,  my  lad,  I'm  not  on  my  bench  now,  and  this 
sixpence  you  have  earned  honestly.  I  trust  you  will 
continue  in  the  right  path.  Be  careful — I  have  sharp 
eyes."     So  saying,  he  rode  off. 

I  never  felt  more  mortified.  It  was  evident  that  he 
considered  me  as  one  who  was  acting  a  part  for  unworthy 
purposes  ;  perhaps  one  of  the  swell  mob  or  a  flash  pick- 
pocket rusticating  until  some  hue  and  cry  was  over. 
"  Well,  well,"  thought  I,  as  I  took  up  a  lump  of  dirt  and 
rubbed  over  my  then  white  hands,  *'it  is  my  fate  to  be 
believed  when  I  deceive,  and  to  be  mistrusted  when  I  am 
acting  honestly  -, "  and  I  returned  to  the  bench  for  my 
bundle,  which— was  gone.  I  stared  with  astonishment. 
"  Is  it  possible  ? "  thought  I.  "  How  dishonest  people  are  ! 
Well,  I  will  not  carry  another  for  the  present.  They 
might  as  well  have  left  me  my  stick."  So  thinking,  and 
without  any  great  degree  of  annoyance  at  the  loss,  I  turned 
from  the  bench  and  walked  away,  I  knew  not  whither. 
It  was  now  getting  dark,  but  I  quite  forgot  that  it  was 
necessary  to  look  out  for  a  lodging  ;  the  fact  is,  that  I  had 
been  completely  upset  by  the  observations  of  the  magis- 
trate, and  the  theft  of  my  bundle  ;  and,  in  a  sort  of  brown 
study,  from  which  I  was  occasionally  recalled  for  a  moment 
by  stumbling  over  various  obstructions,  I  continued  my 
walk  on  the  pathway  until  I  was  two  or  three  miles  away 
from  Brentford.  I  was  within  a  mile  of  Hounslow,  when 
I  was  roused  by  the  groans  of  some  person,  and  it  being 
now  dark,  I  looked  round,  trying  to  catch  by  the  ear  the 


Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father  289 

direction  in  which  to  offer  my  assistance.  They  proceeded 
from  the  other  side  of  a  hedge,  and  I  crawled  through, 
where  I  found  a  man  lying  on  the  ground,  covered  with 
blood  about  the  head,  and  breathing  heavily.  I  untied  his 
neckcloth,  and,  as  well  as  I  could,  examined  his  condition. 
I  bound  his  handkerchief  round  his  head,  and  perceiving 
that  the  position  in  which  he  was  lying  was  very  unfavour- 
able, his  head  and  shoulders  being  much  lower  than  his 
body,  I  was  dragging  the  body  round  so  as  to  raise  those 
parts,  when  I  heard  footsteps  and  voices.  Shortly  after, 
four  people  burst  through  the  hedge  and  surrounded  me. 

"  That  is  him,  TU  swear  to  it,"  cried  an  immense  stout 
man,  seizing  me  ;  "  that  is  the  other  fellow  who  attacked 
me,  and  ran  away.  He  has  come  to  get  off  his  accomplice, 
and  now  we've  just  nicked  them  both." 

"  You  are  very  much  mistaken,"  replied  I,  "  and  you 
have  no  need  to  hold  me  so  tight.  I  heard  the  man  groan, 
and  I  came  to  his  assistance." 

"That  gammon  won't  do,"  replied  one  of  them,  who 
was  a  constable ;  *'  you'll  come  along  with  us,  and  we  may 
as  well  put  on  the  darhies^"*  continued  he,  producing  a  pair 
of  handcuffs. 

Indignant  at  the  insult,  I  suddenly  broke  from  him  who 
held  me,  and  darting  at  the  constable,  knocked  him  down, 
and  then  took  to  my  heels  across  the  ploughed  field. 
The  whole  four  pursued,  but  I  rather  gained  upon  them, 
and  was  in  hopes  to  make  my  escape.  I  ran  for  a  gap 
I  perceived  in  the  hedge,  and  sprang  over  it,  without 
minding  the  old  adage,  of  "look  before  you  leap 5 "for, 
when  on  the  other  side,  I  found  myself  in  a  deep  and 
stagnant  pit  of  water  and  mud.  I  sank  over  head,  and 
with  difficulty  extricated  myself  from  the  mud  at  the 
bottom,  and  when  at  the  surface  I  was  equally  embarrassed 
with  the  weeds  at  the  top,  among  which  I  floundered.  In 
the  meantime  my  pursuers,  warned  by  the  loud  splash,  had 
paused  when  they  came  to  the  hedge,  and  perceiving  my 
situation,  were  at  the  brink  of  the  pit  watching  for  my 
coming  out.     All  resistance  was  useless.     I  was  numbed 

F  T 


290  Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father 

with  cold  and  exhausted  by  my  struggles,  and  when  I 
gained  the  bank  I  surrendered  at  discretion. 


Chapter  LVIII 

Worse  and  worse — If  out  of  gaol,  it  will  be  to  go  out  of  the  world — I  am 
resolved  to  take  my  secret  with  me. 

The  handcuffs  were  now  put  on  without  resistance  on 
my  part,  and  I  was  led  away  to  Hounslow  by  the  two 
constables,  while  the  others  returned  to  secure  the 
wounded  man.  On  my  arrival  I  was  thrust  into  the  clink, 
or  lock-up  house,  as  the  magistrates  would  not  meet  that 
evening,  and  there  I  was  left  to  my  reflections  Previously, 
however,  to  this,  I  was  searched,  and  my  money,  amounting, 
as  I  before  stated,  to  upwards  of  twenty  pounds,  taken 
from  me  by  the  constables,  and  what  I  had  quite  forgotten, 
a  diamond  solitaire  ring,  which  I  had  intended  to  have  left 
with  my  other  bijouterie  for  Timothy,  but  in  my  hurry, 
when  I  left  London,  I  had  allowed  to  remain  upon  my 
finger.  The  gaol  was  a  square  building,  with  two 
unglazed  windows  secured  with  thick  iron  bars,  and  the 
rain  having  beat  in,  it  was  more  like  a  pound  for  cattle,  for 
it  was  not  even  paved,  and  the  ground  was  three  or  four 
inches  deep  in  mud.  There  was  no  seat  in  it,  and  there  I 
was  the  whole  of  the  night  walking  up  and  down  shivering 
in  my  wet  clothes,  in  a  state  of  mind  almost  bordering  upon 
insanity.  Reflect  upon  what  was  likely  to  happen,  I  could 
not.  I  only  ran  over  the  past.  I  remembered  what  I  had 
been,  and  felt  cruelly  the  situation  I  then  was  in.  Had  I 
deserved  it  ?  I  thought  not.  "  Oh  !  father — father  !  " 
exclaimed  I,  bitterly,  "  see  to  what  your  son  is  brought — 
handcuffed  as  a  felon  !  God  have  mercy  on  my  brain,  for 
I  feel  that  it  is  wandering.  Father,  father — alas,  I  have 
none  ! — had  you  left  me  at  the  asylum,  without  any  clue, 
or  hopes  of  a  clue,  to  my  hereafter  being  reclaimed,  it 
would  have  been  a  kindness  j   I  should   then  have  been 


Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father  291 

happy  and  contented  in  some  obscure  situation  ;  but  you 
raised  hopes  only  to  prostrate  them — and  imaginings  which 
have  led  to  my  destruction.  Sacred  is  the  duty  of  a  parent, 
and  heavy  must  be  the  account  of  those  who  desert  their 
children,  and  are  required  by  Heaven  to  render  up  an 
account  of  the  important  trust.     Couldst  thou,  oh  !  father, 

but   now   behold   thy   son !      God    Almighty  ! but    I 

will  not  curse    you,  father  !       No,   no " and    I  burst 

into  tears,  as  I  leant  against  the  damp  walls  of  the 
prison. 

The  day  at  last  broke,  and  the  sun  rose,  and  poured  his 
beaming  rays  through  the  barred  windows.  I  looked  at 
myself,  and  was  shocked  at  my  appearance  ;  my  smock- 
frock  was  covered  with  black  mud,  my  clothes  were 
equally  disfigured.  I  had  lost  my  hat  when  in  the  water, 
and  I  felt  the  dry  mud  cracking  on  my  cheeks.  I  put  my 
hands  up  to  my  head,  and  I  pulled  a  quantity  of  duck-weed 
out  of  my  matted  and  tangled  hair.  I  thought  of  the 
appearance  I  should  make  when  summoned  before  the 
magistrates,  and  how  much  it  would  go  against  me. 
*'  Good  God ! "  thought  I,  "  who,  of  all  the  world  of 
fashion — who,  of  all  those  who  once  caught  my  salutation 
so  eagerly — who,  of  all  those  worldly-minded  girls,  who 
smiled  upon  me  but  one  short  twelve  months  since,  would 
imagine,  or  believe,  that  Japhet  Newland  could  ever  have 
sunk  so  low — and  how  has  he  so  fallen  ?  Alas  !  because 
he  would  be  honest,  and  had  strength  of  mind  enough  to 
adhere  to  his  resolution.  Well,  well,  God's  will  be  done  ; 
I  care  not  for  life  ;  but  still  an  ignominious  death — to  go 
out  of  the  world  like  a  dog,  and  that  too  without  finding 
out  who  is  my  father."  And  I  put  my  fettered  hands  up 
and  pressed  my  burning  brow,  and  remained  in  a  sort  of 
apathetic  sullen  mood,  until  I  was  startled  by  the  opening 
of  the  door,  and  the  appearance  of  the  constables.  They 
led  me  out  among  a  crowd,  through  which,  with  difficulty, 
they  could  force  their  way,  and  followed  by  the  majority 
of  the  population  of  Hounslow,  who  made  their  compli- 
mentary remarks  upon  t}\Q  footpad,  I  was  brought  before 


292  Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father 

the  magistrates.  The  large  stout  man  was  then  called  up 
to  give  his  evidence,  and  deposed  as  follows  : — 

"  That  he  was  walking  to  Hounslow  from  Brentford, 
whither  he  had  been  to  purchase  some  clothes,  when  he 
was  accosted  by  two  fellows  in  smock-frocks,  one  of 
whom  carried  a  bundle  in  his  left  hand.  They  asked  him 
what  o'clock  it  was  ;  and  he  took  out  his  watch  to  tell 
them,  when  he  received  a  blow  from  the  one  with  the 
bundle  (this  one,  sir,  said  he,  pointing  to  me),  on  the 
back  of  his  head ;  at  the  same  time  the  other  (the 
wounded  man  who  was  now  in  custody)  snatched  his 
watch. — That  at  the  time  he  had  purchased  his  clothes  at 
Brentford,  he  had  also  bought  a  bag  of  shot,  fourteen 
pounds  weight,  which  he  had,  for  the  convenience  of 
carrying,  tied  up  with  the  clothes  in  the  bundle,  and  per- 
ceiving that  he  was  about  to  be  robbed,  he  had  swung  his 
bundle  round  his  head,  and  with  the  weight  of  the  shot, 
had  knocked  down  the  man  who  had  snatched  at  his  watch. 
He  then  turned  to  the  other  (me)  who  backed  from  him, 
and  struck  at  him  with  his  stick.  (The  stick  was  here 
produced,  and  when  I  cast  my  eye  on  it,  I  was  horrified  to 
perceive  that  it  was  the  very  stick  which  I  had  bought  of 
the  Jew,  for  threepence,  to  carry  my  bundle  on.)  He  had 
closed  in  with  me,  and  was  wresting  the  stick  out  of  my 
hand,  when  the  other  man,  who  had  recovered  his  legs, 
again  attacked  him  with  another  stick.  In  the  scuffle  he 
had  obtained  my  stick,  and  I  had  wrested  from  him  his 
bundle,  with  which,  as  soon  as  he  had  knocked  down  my 
partner,  I  ran  off.  That  he  beat  my  partner  until  he  was 
insensible,  and  then  found  that  I  had  left  my  own  bundle, 
which  in  the  affray  I  had  thrown  on  one  side.  He  then 
made  the  best  of  his  way  to  Hounslow  to  give  the  infor- 
mation. His  return  and  finding  me  with  the  other  man  is 
already  known  to  the  readers. 

The  next  evidence  who  came  forward  was  the  Jew, 
from  whom  I  had  bought  the  clothes  and  sold  my  own. 
He  narrated  all  that  had  occurred,  and  swore  to  the 
clothes  in  the  bundle  left  by  the  footpad,  and  to  the  stick 


Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father  293 

which  he  had  sold  to  me.  The  constable  then  produced 
the  money  found  about  my  person  and  the  diamond  solitaire 
ring,  stating  my  attempt  to  escape  when  I  was  seized. 
The  magistrate  then  asked  me  whether  I  had  anything 
to  say  in  my  defence,  cautioning  me  not  to  commit 
myself. 

I  replied,  that  I  was  innocent ;  that  it  was  true  that  I 
had  sold  my  own  clothes,  and  had  purchased  those  of  the 
Jew,  as  well  as  the  stick  :  that  I  had  been  asked  to  hold  the 
horse  of  a  gentleman  when  sitting  on  a  bench  opposite  a 
public-house,  and  that  some  one  had  stolen  my  bundle  and 
my  stick.  That  I  had  walked  on  towards  Hounslow,  and, 
in  assisting  a  fellow-creature,  whom  I  certainly  had  con- 
sidered as  having  been  attacked  by  others,  I  had  merely 
yielded  to  the  common  feelings  of  humanity — that  I  was 
seized  when  performing  that  duty,  and  should  willingly 
have  accompanied  them  to  the  magistrate's,  had  not  they 
attempted  to  put  on  handcuffs,  at  which  my  feelings  were 
roused,  and  I  knocked  the  constable  down,  and  made  my 
attempt  to  escape. 

"  Certainly,  a  very  ingenious   defence,"  observed   one 

of  the  magistrates ;  **  pray  where !  "     At  this  moment 

the  door  opened,  and  in  came  the  very  gentleman,  the 
magistrate  at  Bow  Street,  whose  horse  I  had  held.  "  Good 
morning,  Mr  Norman,  you  have  just  come  in  time  to 
render  us  your  assistance.  We  have  a  very  deep  hand 
to  deal  with  here,  or  else  a  very  injured  person,  I  cannot 
tell  which.  Do  us  the  favour  to  look  over  these  informa- 
tions and  the  defence  of  the  prisoner,  previous  to  our 
asking  him  any  more  questions." 

The  Bow  Street  magistrate  complied,  and  then  turned 
to  me,  but  I  was  so  disguised  with  mud,  that  he  could 
not  recognise  me. 

"  You  are  the  gentleman,  sir,  who  asked  me  to  hold 
your  horse,"  said  I.  "I  call  you  to"  witness,  that  that 
part  of  my  assertion  is  true." 

"  I  do  now  recollect  that  you  are  the  person,"  replied 
he,    "and   you   may   recollect   the   observation   I    made, 


294  Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father 

relative  to  your  hands,  when  you  stated  that  you  were 
a  poor  countryman." 

"  I  do,  sir,  perfectly,"  replied  I. 

"  Perhaps  then  you  will  inform  us  by  what  means  a 
diamond  ring  and  twenty  pounds  in  money  came  into 
your  possession  ? " 

**  Honestly,  sir,"  replied  I. 

"  Will  you  state,  as  you  are  a  poor  countryman,  with 
whom  you  worked  last — what  parish  you  belong  to — 
and  whom  you  can  bring  forward  in  proof  of  good 
character  ? " 

"  I  certainly  shall  not  answer  those  questions,"  replied 
I ;  "  if  I  chose  I  might  so  do,  and  satisfactorily." 

**  What  is  your  name  ?  " 

"  I  cannot  answer  that  question  either,  sir,"  replied  I. 

"  I  told  you  yesterday  that  we  had  met  before ;  was 
it  not  at  Bow  Street  ?  " 

**  I  am  surprised  at  your  asking  a  question,  sir,  from 
the  bench,  to  which,  if  I  answered,  the  reply  might  affect 
me  considerably.  I  am  here  in  a  false  position,  and  cannot 
well  help  myself.  I  have  no  friends  that  I  choose  to  call, 
for  I  should  blush  that  they  should  see  me  in  such  a 
state,  and  under  such  imputations." 

"  Your  relations,  young  man,  would  certainly  not  be 
backward.     Who  is  your  father  ? " 

"My  father!"  exclaimed  I,  raising  up  my  hands  and' 
eyes.  "My  father!  Merciful  God! — if  he  could  only 
see  me  here — see  to  what  he  has  reduced  his  unhappy 
son,"  and  I  covered  my  face,  and  sobbed  convulsively. 


Chapter  LIX 

By  the  committing  of  magisterial  mistakes  I  am  personally  and  penally 
committed — I  prepare. for  my  trial  by  calling  in  the  assistance  of  the 
tailor  and  the  perfumer — I  am  resolved  to  die  like  a  gentleman. 

"It  is  indeed  a  pity,  a  great  pity,"  observed  one  of  the 
magistrates,  **  such  a  fine  young  man,  and  evidently,  by 


Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father  295 

his  demeanour  and  language,  well  brought  up ;  but  I 
believe,"  said  he  turning  to  the  others,  "  we  have  but 
one  course  ;  what  say  you,  Mr  Norman  ?  '* 

"  I  am  afraid  that  my  opinion  coincides  with  yours, 
and  that  the  grand  jury  will  not  hesitate  to  find  a  bill, 
as  the  case  stands  at  present.  Let  us,  however,  ask  the 
witness  Armstrong  one  question.  Do  you  positively 
swear  to  this  young  man  being  one  of  the  persons  who 
attacked  you  ? " 

**  It  was  not  very  light  at  the  time,  sir,  and  both  the 
men  had  their  faces  smutted ;  but  it  was  a  person  just  his 
size,  and  dressed  in  the  same  way,  as  near  as  I  can 
recollect." 

**  You  cannot,  therefore,  swear  to  his  identity  ?  " 

"  No,  sir  ;  but  to  the  best  of  my  knowledge  and  belief, 
he  is  the  man." 

"  Take  that  evidence  down  as  important,"  said  Mr 
Norman,  *'  it  will  assist  him  at  his  trial." 

The  evidence  was  taken  down,  and  then  my  commitment 
to  the  county  gaol  was  made  out.  I  was  placed  in  a  cart, 
between  two  constables,  and  driven  off.  On  my  arrival  I 
was  put  into  a  cell,  and  my  money  returned  to  me,  but  the 
ring  was  detained,  that  it  might  be  advertised.  At  last,  I 
was  freed  from  the  manacles,  and  when  the  prison  dress 
was  brought  to  me  to  put  on,  in  lieu  of  my  own  clothes,  I 
requested  leave  from  the  gaoler  to  wash  myself,  which  was 
granted  ;  and,  strange  to  say,  so  unaccustomed  had  I  been 
to  such  a  state  of  filth,  that  I  felt  a  degree  of  happiness,  as 
I  returned  from  the  pump  in  the  prison-yard,  and  I  put  on 
the  prison  dress  almost  with  pleasure ;  for  degrading  as  it 
was,  at  all  events,  it  was  new  and  clean.  I  then  returned 
to  my  cell  and  was  left  to  my  meditations. 

Now  that  my  examination  and  committal  were  over,  I 
became  much  more  composed,  and  was  able  to  reflect  coolly. 
I  perceived  the  great  danger  of  my  situation — how  strong 
the  evidence  was  against  me — and  how  little  chance  I  had 
of  escape.  As  for  sending  to  Lord  Windermear,  Mr 
Masterton,  or  those  who  formerly  were  acquainted  with 


2g6  Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father 

me,  my  pride  forbade  it — I  would  sooner  have  perished  on 
the  scaffold.  Besides,  their  evidence  as  to  my  former 
situation  in  life,  although  it  would  perhaps  satisfactorily 
account  for  my  possession  of  the  money  and  the  ring, 
and  for  my  disposing  of  my  portmanteau — all  strong  pre- 
sumptive evidence  against  me — would  not  destroy  the 
evidence  brought  forward  as  to  the  robbery,  which 
appeared  to  be  so  very  conclusive  to  the  bench  of  magis- 
trates. My  only  chance  appeared  to  be  in  the  footpad, 
who  had  not  escaped,  acknowledging  that  I  was  not  his 
accomplice,  and  I  felt  how  much  I  was  interested  in  his 
recovery,  as  well  as  in  his  candour.  The  assizes  I  knew 
were  near  at  hand,  and  I  anxiously  awaited  the  return  of 
the  gaoler,  to  make  a  few  inquiries.  At  night  he  looked 
through  the  small  square  cut  out  of  the  top  of  the  door  of 
the  cell,  for  it  was  his  duty  to  go  his  rounds  and  ascertain 
if  all  his  prisoners  were  safe.  I  then  asked  him  if  I  might 
be  allowed  to  make  a  few  purchases,  such  as  pens,  ink,  and 
paper,  &c.  As  I  was  not  committed  to  prison  in  punishment, 
but  on  suspicion,  this  was  not  denied,  although  it  would 
have  been  to  those  who  were  condemned  to  imprisonment 
and  hard  labour  for  their  offences ;  and  he  volunteered  to 
procure  them  for  me  the  next  morning.  I  then  wished  him 
a  good-night,  and  threw  myself  on  my  mattress.  Worn 
out  with  fatigue  and  distress  of  mind,  I  slept  soundly, 
without  dreaming,  until  daylight  the  next  morning.  As  I 
awoke,  and  my  scattered  senses  were  returning,  I  had  a 
confused  idea  that  there  was  something  which  weighed 
heavily  on  my  mind,  which  sleep  had  banished  from  my 
memory.  "  What  is  it  ? "  thought  I ;  and  as  I  opened  my 
eyes,  so  did  I  remember  that  I,  Japhet  Newland,  who  but 
two  nights  before  was  pressing  the  down  of  luxury  in  the 
same  habitation  as  Lady  de  Clare  and  her  lovely  child,  was 
now  on  a  mattress  in  the  cell  of  a  prison,  under  a  charge 
which  threatened  me  with  an  ignominious  death.  I  rose, 
and  sat  on  the  bed,  for  I  had  not  thrown  off  my  clothes. 
My  first  thoughts  were  directed  to  Timothy.  Should  I 
write  to  him  ?     No,  no !  why  should  I  make  him  miser- 


Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father  297 

able  ?  If  I  was  to  suffer,  it  should  be  under  an  assumed 
name.  But  what  name  ?  Here  I  was  interrupted  by  the 
gaoler,  who  opened  the  door,  and  desired  me  to  roll  up  my 
mattress  and  bed-clothes,  that  they  might,  as  was  the 
custom,  be  taken  out  of  the  cell  during  the  day. 

My  first  inquiry  was,  if  the  man  who  had  been  so  much 
hurt  was  in  the  gaol. 

"  You  mean  your  'complice,"  replied  the  gaoler.  "  Yes, 
he  is  here,  and  has  recovered  his  senses.  The  doctor  says 
he  will  do  very  well." 

"  Has  he  made  any  confession  ?  "  inquired  I. 

The  gaoler  made  no  reply. 

"  I  ask  that  question,"  continued  I,  "  because  if  he 
acknowledges  who  was  his  accomplice,  I  shall  be  set  at 
liberty." 

*'  Very  hkely,"  replied  the  man,  sarcastically  ;  "  the  fact 
is,  there  is  no  occasion  for  king's  evidence  in  this  case,  or 
you  might  get  off  by  crossing  the  water ;  so  you  must 
trust  to  your  luck.  The  grand  jury  meet  to-day,  and  I 
will  let  you  know  whether  a  true  bill  is  found  against  you 
or  not." 

**  What  is  the  name  of  the  other  man  ? "   inquired  I. 

"  Well,  you  are  a  good  un  to  put  a  face  upon  a  matter, 
I  will  say.  You  would  almost  persuade  me,  with  that 
innocent  look  of  yours,  that  you  know  nothing  about  the 
business." 

"  Nor  do  I,"  replied  I. 

"  You  will  be  fortunate  if  you  can  prove  as  much,  that's 
all." 

**  Still,  you  have  not  answered  my  question  ;  what  is  the 
other  man's  name  ?  " 

"  Well,"  replied  the  gaoler,  laughing,  **  since  you  are 
determined  I  shall  tell  you,  I  will.  It  must  be  news  to 
you,  with  a  vengeance.  His  name  is  Bill  Ogle,  alias 
Swamping  Bill.  I  suppose  you  never  heard  that  name 
before  ? " 

**  I  certainly  never  did,"  replied  I. 

**  Perhaps  you  do  not  know  your  own  name  ?     Yet  I 


298  Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father 

can  tell  it  you,  for  Bill  Ogle  has  blown  upon  you  so 
far." 

"  Indeed,"  replied  I ,  "  and  what  name  has  he  given  to 
me?" 

"  Why,  to  do  him  justice,  it  wasn't  until  he  saw  a  copy 
of  the  depositions  before  the  magistrates,  and  heard  how 
you  were  nabbed  in  trying  to  help  him  off,  that  he  did  tell 
it ;  and  then  he  said,  '  Well,  Phil  Maddox  always  was  a 
true  un,  and  Fm  mortal  sorry  that  he's  in  for't,  by  looking 
a'ter  me.'     Now  do  you  know  your  own  name  ?  " 

"  I  certainly  do  not,"  replied  I. 

"  Well,  did  you  ever  hear  of  one  who  went  by  the  name 
of  Phil  Maddox?" 

"  I  never  did,"  replied  I ;  "  and  I  am  glad  that  Ogle  has 
disclosed  so  much." 

*'  Well,  I  never  before  met  with  a  man  who  didn't  know 
his  own  name,  or  had  the  face  to  say  so,  and  expect  to  be 
believed  ;  but  never  mind,  you  are  right  to  be  cautious, 
with  the  halter  looking  you  in  the  face." 

"  O  God !  O  God  !  "  exclaimed  I,  throwing  myself  on 
the  bedstead,  and  covering  up  my  face,  "  give  me  strength 
to  bear  even  that,  if  so  it  must  be." 

The  gaoler  looked  at  me  for  a  time.  "I  don't  know 
what  to  make  of  him — he  puzzles  me  quite,  certainly. 
Yet  it's  no  mistake." 

"It  is  a  mistake,"  replied  I,  rising;  "  but  whether 
the  mistake  will  be  found  out  until  too  late,  is  another 
point.  However,  it  is  of  little  consequence.  What  have 
I  to  live  for, — unless  to  find  out  who  is  my  father  ?  " 

"  Find  out  your  father  I  what's  in  the  wind  now  ?  well, 
it  beats  my  comprehension  altogether.  But  did  not  you  say 
you  wished  me  to  get  you  something  ? " 

"  Yes,"  replied  I;  and  I  gave  him  some  money,  with 
directions  to  purchase  me  implements  for  writing,  some 
scented  wax,  a  tooth-brush,  and  tooth-powder,  eau  de 
cologne,  hair-brush  and  comb,  razors,  small  looking-glass, 
and  various  implements  for  my  toilet. 

'*  This  is  a  rum  world,"  said  the  man,  repeating  what  I 


Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father  299 

asked  for,  as  I  put  two  guineas  in  his  hand.  "  Fve 
purchased  many  a  article  for  a  prisoner,  but  never  heard  of 
such  rattletraps  afore ;  however,  that  be  all  the  same. 
You  will  have  them,  though  what  ho  de  colum  is  I  can't  tell, 
nor  dang  me  if  I  shall  recollect — not  poison,  be  it,  for  that 
is  not  allowed  in  the  prison  ?  " 

"  No,  no,"  replied  I,  indulging  in  momentary  mirth  at 
the  idea ;  "  you  may  inquire,  and  you  will  find  that  it's 
only  taken  by  ladies  who  are  troubled  with  the  vapours." 

**  Now  I  should  ha'  thought  that  you'd  have  spent  your 
money  in  the  cookshop,  which  is  so  much  more  natural. 
However,  we  all  have  our  fancies  ; "  so  saying,  he  quitted 
the  cell,  and  locked  the  door. 


Chapter    LX 

I  am  condemned  to  be  hung  by  the  neck  until  I  am  dead,  and  to  go  out  of 
the  world  without  finding  out  who  is  my  father — Afterwards  my  innocence 
is  made  manifest  and  I  am  turned  adrift  a  maniac  in  the  high  road. 

It  may  appear  strange  to  the  reader  that  I  sent  for  the 
above-mentioned  articles,  but  habit  is  second  nature,  and 
although  two  days  before,  when  I  set  out  on  my  pilgrimage, 
I  had  resolved  to  discard  these  superfluities,  yet  now  in 
my  distress  I  felt  as  if  they  would  comfort  me.  That 
evening,  after  rectifying  a  few  mistakes  on  the  part  of  the 
good-tempered  gaoler,  by  writing  down  what  I  wanted  on 
the  paper  which  he  had  procured  me,  I  obtained  all  that  I 
required. 

The  next  morning,  he  informed  me  that  the  grand  jury 
had  found  a  true  bill  against  me,  and  that  on  the  Saturday 
next,  the  assizes  would  be  held.  He  also  brought  me  the 
list  of  trials,  and  I  found  that  mine  would  be  one  of  the 
last,  and  would  not  probably  come  on  until  Monday  or 
Tuesday.  I  requested  him  to  send  for  a  good  tailor,  as  I 
wished  to  be  dressed  in  a  proper  manner,  previous  to 
appearing  in  court.     As  a  prisoner  is  allowed  to  go  into 


300  Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father 

court  in  his  own  clothes  instead  of  the  gaol  dress,  this  was 
consented  to,  and  when  the  man  came,  I  was  very  particular 
in  my  directions,  so  much  so,  that  it  surprised  him.  He 
also  procured  me  the  other  articles  I  required  to  complete 
my  dress,  and  on  Saturday  night  I  had  them  all  ready,  for 
I  was  resolved  that  I  would  at  least  die  as  a  gentleman. 

Sunday  passed  away,  not  as  it  ought  to  have  passed, 
certainly.  I  attended  prayers,  but  my  thoughts  were  else- 
where— how,  indeed,  could  it  be  otherwise  ?  Who  can 
control  his  thoughts  ?  He  may  attempt  so  to  do,  but  the 
attempt  is  all  that  can  be  made.  He  cannot  command  them. 
I  heard  nothing,  my  mind  was  in  a  state  of  gyration, 
whirling  round  from  one  thing  to  the  other,  until  I  was 
giddy  from  intensity  of  feeling. 

On  Monday  morning  the  gaoler  came  and  asked  me 
whether  I  would  have  legal  advice.  I  replied  in  the 
negative.  *'  You  will  be  called  about  twelve  o'clock,  I 
hear,"  continued  he ;  "  it  is  now  ten,  and  there  is  only  one 
more  trial  before  yours,  about  the  stealing  of  four  geese 
and  half  a  dozen  fowls." 

"  Good  God  ! "  thought  I,  "  and  am  I  mixed  up  with 
such  deeds  as  these  ? "  I  dressed  myself  with  the  utmost 
care  and  precision,  and  never  was  more  successful.  My 
clothes  were  black,  and  fitted  well.  About  one  o'clock  I 
was  summoned  by  the  gaoler,  and  led  between  him  and 
another  to  the  court-house,  and  placed  in  the  dock.  At 
first  my  eyes  swam,  and  I  could  distinguish  nothing,  but 
gradually  I  recovered.  I  looked  round,  for  I  had  called  up 
my  courage.  My  eyes  wandered  from  the  judge  to  the  row 
of  legal  gentlemen  below  him ;  from  them  to  the  well- 
dressed  ladies  who  sat  in  the  gallery  above  ;  behind  me  I 
did  not  look.  I  had  seen  enough,  and  my  cheeks  burned 
with  shame.  At  last  I  looked  at  my  fellow-culprit,  who 
stood  beside  me,  and  his  eyes  at  the  same  time  met  mine. 
He  was  dressed  in  the  gaol  clothes,  of  pepper  and  salt 
coarse  cloth.  He  was  a  rough,  vulgar,  brutal  looking  man, 
but  his  eye  was  brilliant,  his  complexion  was  dark,  and  his 
face   was   covered   with   whiskers.        **  Good    heavens," 


Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father  301 

thought  I,  "  who  will  ever  imagine  or  credit  that  we  have 
been  associates  ? " 

The  man  stared  at  me,  bit  his  lip,  and  smiled  with 
contempt,  but  made  no  further  remark.  The  indictment 
having  been  read,  the  clerk  of  the  court  cried  out,  "  You, 
Benjamin  Ogle,  having  heard  the  charge,  say,  guilty  or 
not  guilty  ? " 

"  Not  guilty,"  replied  the  man,  to  my  astonishment. 

"  You,  Philip  Maddox,  guilty  or  not  guilty  ?  "  I  did 
not  answer. 

"Prisoner,"  observed  the  judge  in  a  mild  voice,  "you 
must  answer,  guilty  or  not  guilty.     It  is  merely  a  form." 

"  My  lord,"  replied  I,  "my  name  is  not  Philip  Maddox." 

**  That  is  the  name  given  in  the  indictment  by  the 
evidence  of  your  fellow-prisoner,"  observed  the  judge ; 
"  your  real  name  we  cannot  pretend  to  know.  It  is 
sufficient  that  you  answer. to  the  question  of  whether  you, 
the  prisoner,  are  guilty  or  not  guilty." 

"Not  guilty,  my  lord,  most  certainly,"  replied  I, 
placing  my  hand  to  my  heart,  and  bowing  to  him. 

The  trial  proceeded ;  Armstrong  was  the  principal 
evidence.  To  my  person  he  would  not  swear.  The  Jew 
proved  my  selling  my  clothes,  purchasing  those  found  in 
the  bundle,  and  the  stick,  of  which  Armstrong  possessed 
himself.  The  clothes  I  had  on  at  the  time  of  my  capture 
were  produced  in  court.  As  for  Ogle,  his  case  was 
decisive.  We  were  then  called  upon  for  our  defence. 
Ogle's  was  very  short.  "  He  had  been  accustomed  to  fits 
all  his  life — was  walking  to  Hounslow,  and  had  fallen 
down  in  a  fit.  It  must  have  been  somebody  else  who  had 
committed  the  robbery  and  had  made  off,  and  he  had  been 
picked  up  in  a  mistake."  This  defence  appeared  to  make 
no  other  impression  than  ridicule,  and  indignation  at  the 
barefaced  assertion.     I  was  then  called  on  for  mine. 

"  My  lord,"  said  I,  "  I  have  no  defence  to  make  except 
that  which  I  asserted  before  the  magistrates,  that  I  was 
performing  an  act  of  charity  towards  a  fellow-creature, 
and-  was,  through   that,   supposed  to  be  an  accomplice. 


302  Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father 

Arraigned  before  so  many  upon  a  charge,  at  the  bare 
accusation  of  which  my  blood  revolts,  I  cannot  and  will 
not  allow  those  who  might  prove  what  my  life  has  been, 
and  the  circumstances  which  induced  me  to  take  up  the 
disguise  in  which  I  was  taken,  to  appear  in  my  behalf. 
I  am  unfortunate,  but  not  guilty.  One  only  chance 
appears  to  be  open  to  me,  which  is,  in  the  candour  of  the 
party  who  now  stands  by  me.  If  he  will  say  to  the  court 
that  he  ever  saw  me  before,  I  will  submit  without  murmur 
to  my  sentence." 

"I'm  sorry  that  you've  put  that  question,  my  boy," 
replied  the  man,  "for  I  have  seen  you  before;"  and  the 
wretch  chuckled  with  repressed  laughter. 

I  was  so  astonished,  so  thunderstruck  with  this  assertion, 
that  I  held  down  my  head,  and  made  no  reply.  The 
judge  then  summed  up  the  evidence  to  the  jury,  pointing 
out  to  them,  that  of  Ogle's  guilt  there  could  be  no  doubt, 
and  of  mine,  he  was  sorry  to  say,  but  little.  Still  they 
must  bear  in  mind  that  the  witness  Armstrong  could  not 
swear  to  my  person.  The  jury,  without  leaving  the  box, 
consulted  together  a  short  time,  and  brought  in  a  verdict 
of  guilty  against  Benjamin  Ogle  and  Philip  Maddox.  I 
heard  no  more — the  judge  sentenced  us  both  to  execution  : 
he  lamented  that  so  young  and  prepossessing  a  person  as 
myself  should  be  about  to  suffer  for  such  an  offence :  he 
pointed  out  the  necessity  of  condign  punishment,  and  gave 
us  no  hopes  of  pardon  or  clemency.  But  I  heard  him  not 
— I  did  not  fall,  but  I  was  in  a  state  of  stupor.  At  last, 
he  wound  up  his  sentence  by  praying  us  to  prepare  our- 
selves for  the  awful  change,  by  an  appeal  to  that  heavenly 

Father "  Father  !  "    exclaimed    I,    in    a    voice    which 

electrified  the  court,  "  did  you  say  my  father  ?  O  God  ! 
where  is  he  ? "  and  I  fell  down  in  a  fit.  The  handker- 
chiefs of  the  ladies  were  applied  to  their  faces,  the  whole 
court  were  moved,  for  I  had,  by  my  appearance,  excited 
considerable  interest,  and  the  judge,  with  a  faltering, 
subdued  voice,  desired  that  the  prisoners  might  be 
removed. 


Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father  303 

«*  Stop  one  minute,  my  good  fellow,"  said  Ogle,  to  the 
gaoler,  while  others  were  taking  me  out  of  court.  "  My 
lord,  I've  something  rather  important  to  say.  Why  I  did 
not  say  it  before,  you  shall  hear.  You  are  a  judge,  to 
condemn  the  guilty,  and  release  the  innocent.  We  are 
told  that  there  is  no  trial  like  an  English  jury,  but  this  I 
say,  that  many  a  man  is  hung  for  what  he  never  has  been 
guilty  of.  You  have  condemned  that  poor  young  man  to 
death.  I  could  have  prevented  it  if  I  had  chosen  to  speak 
before,  but  I  would  not,  that  I  might  prove  how  little 
there  is  of  justice.  He  had  nothing  to  do  with  the  robbery 
— Phil  Maddox  was  the  man,  and  he  is  not  Philip  Maddox. 
He  said  that  he  never  saw  me  before,  nor  do  I  believe  that 
he  ever  did.     As  sure  as  I  shall  hang,  he  is  innocent." 

"  It  was  but  now,  that  when  appealed  to  by  him,  you 
stated  that  you  had  seen  him  before." 

"  So  I  did,  and  I  told  the  truth — I  had  seen  him  before. 
I  saw  him  go  to  hold  the  gentleman's  horse,  but  he  did 
not  see  me.  I  stole  his  bundle  and  his  stick,  which  he 
left  on  the  bench,  and  that's  how  they  were  found  in  our 
possession.  Now  you  have  the  truth,  and  you  may  either 
acknowledge  that  there  is  little  justice,  by  eating  your 
own  words,  and  letting  him  free,  or  you  may  hang  him, 
rather  than  acknowledge  that  you  are  wrong.  At  all 
events,  his  blood  will  now  be  on  your  hands,  and  not 
mine.  If  Phil  Maddox  had  not  turned  tail,  like  a  coward, 
I  should  not  have  been  here  ;  so  I  tell  the  truth  to  save 
him  who  was  doing  me  a  kind  act,  and  to  let  him  swing 
who  left  me  in  the  lurch." 

The  judge  desired  that  this  statement  might  be  taken 
down,  that  further  inquiry  might  be  made,  intimating  to 
the  jury,  that  I  should  be  respited  for  the  present ;  but  of 
all  this  I  was  ignorant.  As  there  was  no  placing  confidence 
in  the  assertions  of  such  a  man  as  Ogle,  it  was  considered 
necessary  that  he  should  repeat  his  assertions  at  the  last 
hour  of  his  existence,  and  the  gaoler  was  ordered  not  to 
state  what  had  passed  to  me,  as  he  might  excite  false 
hopes. 


304  Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father 

When  I  recovered  from  my  fit,  I  found  myself  in  the 
gaoler's  parlour,  and  as  soon  as  I  was  able  to  walk,  I  was 
locked  up  in  a  condemned  cell.  The  execution  had  been 
ordered  to  take  place  on  the  Thursday,  and  I  had  two 
days  to  prepare.  In  the  meantime,  the  greatest  interest 
had  been  excited  with  regard  to  me.  My  whole  appear- 
ance so  evidently  belied  the  charge,  that  everyone  was  in 
my  favour.  Ogle  was  requestioned,  and  immediately  gave 
a  clue  for  the  apprehension  of  Maddox,  who,  he  said,  he 
hoped  would  swing  by  his  side. 

The  gaoler  came  to  me  the  next  day,  saying,  that  some 
of  the  magistrates  wished  to  speak  with  me ;  but  as  I  had 
made  up  my  mind  not  to  reveal  my  former  life,  my  only 
reply  was,  "  That  I  begged  they  would  allow  me  to  have 
my  last  moments  to  myself."  I  recollected  Melchior's  idea 
of  destiny,  and  imagined  that  he  was  right.  "  It  was  my 
destiny,"  thought  I :  and  I  remained  in  a  state  of  stupor. 
The  fact  was,  that  I  was  very  ill,  my  head  was  heavy,  my 
brain  was  on  fire,  and  the  throbbing  of  my  heart  could 
have  been  perceived  without  touching  my  breast. 

I  remained  on  the  mattress  all  day,  and  all  the  next 
night,  with  my  face  buried  in  the  clothes !  I  was  too  ill 
to  raise  my  head.  On  Wednesday  morning  I  felt  myself 
gently  pushed  on  the  shoulder  by  some  one ;  I  opened 
my  eyes ;  it  was  a  clergyman.  I  turned  away  my  head, 
and  remained  as  before.  I  was  then  in  a  violent  fever. 
He  spoke  for  some  time :  occasionally  I  heard  a  word, 
and  then  relapsed  into  a  state  of  mental  imbecility.  He 
sighed,  and  went  away. 

Thursday  came,  and  the  hour  of  death, — but  time  was 
by  me  unheeded,  as  well  as  eternity.  In  the  meantime 
Maddox  had  been  taken,  and  the  contents  of  Armstrong's 
bundle  found  in  his  possession ;  and  when  he  discovered 
that  Ogle  had  been  evidence  against  him,  he  confessed  to 
the  robbery. 

Whether  it  was  on  Thursday  or  Friday,  I  knew  not 
then,  but  I  was  lifted  off  the  bed,  and  taken  before  some- 
body— something  passed,  but  the  fever  had  mounted  up 


Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  P'ather  305 

to  my  head,  and  I  was  in  a  state  of  stupid  delirium. 
Strange  to  say,  they  did  not  perceive  my  condition,  but 
ascribed  it  all  to  abject  fear  of  death.  I  was  led  away — 
I  had  made  no  answer — but  I  was  free. 


Chapter  LXI 

When  at  the  lowest  spoke  of  Fortune's  wheel,  one  is  sure  to  rise  as  it  turns 
round — I  recover  my  senses  and  find  myself  amongst  Friends. 

I  THINK  some  people  shook  me  by  the  hand,  and  others 
shouted  as  I  walked  in  the  open  air,  but  I  recollect  no 
more.  I  afterwards  was  informed  that  I  had  been  re- 
prieved, that  I  had  been  sent  for,  and  a  long  exhortation 
delivered  to  me,  for  it  was  considered  that  my  life  must 
have  been  one  of  error,  or  I  should  have  applied  to  my 
friends,  and  have  given  my  name.  My  not  answering 
was  attributed  to  shame  and  confusion — my  glassy  eye 
had  not  been  noticed — my  tottering  step  when  led  in  by 
the  gaolers  attributed  to  other  causes  ;  and  the  magistrates 
shook  their  heads  as  I  was  led  out  of  their  presence. 
The  gaoler  had  asked  me  several  times  where  I  intended 
to  go.  At  last,  I  had  told  him,  to  seek  my  father,  and 
darting  away  from  him,  I  had  run  like  a  madman  down 
the  street.  Of  course  he  had  no  longer  any  power  over 
me :  but  he  muttered,  as  I  fled  from  him,  "  I've  a  notion 
he'll  soon  be  locked  up  again,  poor  fellow !  it's  turned 
his  brain  for  certain." 

As  I  tottered  along,  my  unsteady  step  naturally  attracted 
the  attention  of  the  passers-by ;  but  they  attributed  it  to 
intoxication.  Thus  was  I  allowed  to  wander  away  in  a 
state  of  madness,  and  before  night  I  was  far  from  the 
town.  What  passed,  and  whither  I  had  bent  my  steps, 
I  cannot  tell.  All  I  know  is,  that  after  running  like  a 
maniac,  seizing  everybody  by  the  arm  that  I  met,  staring 
at  them  with  wild  and  flashing  eyes ;  and  sometimes  in 
a   solemn   voice,   at  others   in  a   loud,   threatening  tone, 

F  U 


3o6  Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father 

startling  them  with  the  interrogatory,  "  Are  you  my 
father  ? "  and  then  darting  away,  or  sobbing  like  a  child, 
as  the  humour  took  me,  I  had  crossed  the  country,  and 
three  days  afterwards  I  was  picked  up  at  the  door  of  a 
house  in  the  town  of  Reading,  exhausted  with  fatigue 
and  exposure,  and  nearly  dead.  When  I  recovered, 
I  found  myself  in  bed,  my  head  shaved,  my  arm  bound 
up,  after  repeated  bleedings,  and  a  female  figure  sitting 
by  me. 

"  God  in  heaven  !  where  am  I  ?  "  exclaimed  I,  faintly. 

**Thou  hast  called  often  upon  thy  earthly  father  during 
the  time  of  thy  illness,  friend,"  replied  a  soft  voice.  "  It 
rejoiceth  me  much  to  hear  thee  call  upon  thy  Father  which 
is  in  heaven.  Be  comforted,  thou  art  in  the  hands  of 
those  who  will  be  mindful  of  thee.  Offer  up  thy  thanks 
in  one  short  prayer,  for  thy  return  to  reason,  and  then 
sink  again  into  repose,  for  thou  must  need  it  much." 

I  opened  my  eyes  wide,  and  perceived  that  a  young 
person  in  a  Quaker's  dress  was  sitting  by  the  bed  working 
with  her  needle;  an  open  Bible  was  on  a  little  table 
before  her.  I  perceived  also  a  cup,  and  parched  with 
thirst,  I  merely  said,  "  Give  me  to  drink."  She  arose, 
and  put  a  teaspoon  to  my  lips  ;  but  I  raised  my  hand, 
took  the  cup  from  her,  and  emptied  it.  O  how  delightful 
was  that  draught !  I  sank  down  on  my  pillow,  for  even 
that  slight  exertion  had  overpowered  me,  and  muttering, 
"  God,  I  thank  thee ! "  I  was  immediately  in  a  sound 
sleep,  from  which  I  did  not  awake  for  many  hours. 
When  I  did,  it  was  not  daylight.  A  lamp  was  on  the 
table,  and  an  old  man  in  a  Quaker's  dress  was  snoring 
very  comfortably  in  the  arm-chair.  I  felt  quite  refreshed 
with  my  long  sleep,  and  was  now  able  to  recall  what 
had  passed.  I  remembered  the  condemned  cell,  and  the 
mattress  upon  which  I  lay,  but  all  after  was  in  a  state  of 
confusion.  Here  and  there  a  fact  or  supposition  was 
strong  in  my  memory  ;  but  the  intervals  between  were 
total  blanks.  I  was,  at  all  events,  free,  that  I  felt  con- 
vinced of,  and  that  I  was  in  the  hands  of  the  sect  who 


Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father  307 

denominate  themselves  Quakers :  but  where  was  I  ?  and 
how  did  I  come  here  ?  I  remained  thinking  on  the  past, 
and  wondering,  until  the  day  broke,  and  with  the  day- 
light roused  up  my  watchful  attendant.  He  yawned, 
stretched  his  arms,  and  rising  from  the  chair,  came  to 
the  side  of  my  bed.  I  looked  him  in  the  face.  "Hast 
thou  slept  well,  friend  ?  "  said  he. 

**  I  have  slept  as  much  as  I  wish,  and  would  not  disturb 
you^'*  replied  I,  **  for  I  wanted  nothing." 

"  Peradventure  I  did  sleep,"  replied  the  man ;  **  watch- 
ing long  agreeth  not  with  the  flesh,  although  the  spirit  is 
most  willing.     Requirest  thou  anything  ?  " 

**  Yes,"  replied  I,  "  I  wish  to  know  where  I  am  ? " 

**  Verily,  thou  art  in  the  town  of  Reading  in  Berkshire, 
and  in  the  house  of  Phineas  Cophagus." 

**  Cophagus  !  "  exclaimed  I ;  "  Mr  Cophagus,  the  surgeon 
and  apothecary  ? " 

"  Phineas  Cophagus  is  his  name  ;  he  hath  been  admitted 
into  our  sect,  and  hath  married  a  daughter  of  our  per- 
suasion. He  hath  attended  thee  in  thy  fever  and  thy 
frenzy,  without  calling  in  the  aid  of  the  physician,  there- 
fore do  I  believe  that  he  must  be  the  man  of  whom  thou 
speakest  -,  yet  doth  he  not  follow  up  the  healing  art  for  the 
lucre  of  gain." 

"  And  the  young  person  who  was  at  my  bedside,  is  she 
his  wife  ? " 

"  Nay,  friend,  she  is  half-sister  to  the  wife  of  Phineas 
Cophagus  by  a  second  marriage,  and  a  maiden,  who  was 
named  Susannah  Temple  at  the  baptismal  font ;  but  I  will 
go  to  Phineas  Cophagus  and  acquaint  him  of  your  waking, 
for  such  were  his  directions." 

The  man  then  quitted  the  room,  leaving  me  quite 
astonished  with  the  information  he  had  imparted.  Co- 
phagus turned  Quaker  !  and  attending  me  in  the  town 
of  Reading.  In  a  short  time  Mr  Cophagus  himself 
entered  in  his  dressing-gown.  "  Japhet !  "  said  he,  seizing 
my  hand  with  eagerness,  and  then,  as  if  recollecting,  he 
checked  himself,  and  commenced  in  a  slow  tone,  "  Japhet 


3o8  Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father 

Newland — truly  glad  am  I — hum — verily  do  I  rejoice — 
you,  Ephraim — get  out  of  the  room — and  so  on." 

"  Yea,  I  will  depart,  since  it  is  thy  bidding,"  replied  the 
man,  quitting  the  room. 

Mr  Cophagus  then  greeted  me  in  his  usual  way — told 
me  that  he  had  found  me  insensible  at  the  door  of  a  house 
a  little  way  off,  and  had  immediately  recognised  me.  He 
had  brought  me  to  his  own  home,  but  without  much  hope 
of  my  recovery.  He  then  begged  to  know  by  what 
strange  chance  I  had  been  found  in  such  a  desolate  condi- 
tion. I  replied,  "  that  although  I  was  able  to  listen,  I  did 
not  feel  myself  equal  to  the  exertion  of  telling  so  long 
a  story,  and  that  I  should  infinitely  prefer  that  he  should 
narrate  to  me  what  had  passed  since  we  had  parted  at 
Dublin,  and  how  it  was  that  I  now  found  that  he  had 
joined  the  sect  of  Quakers." 

"  Peradventure — long  word  that — um — queer  people — 
very  good — and  so  on,"  commenced  Mr  Cophagus ;  but  as 
the  reader  will  not  understand  his  phraseology  quite  so 
well  as  I  did,  I  shall  give  Mr  Cophagus's  history  in  my 
own  version. 

Mr  Cophagus  had  returned  to  the  small  town  at  which 
he  resided,  and,  on  his  arrival,  he  had  been  called  upon  by 
a  gentleman  who  was  of  the  Society  of  Friends,  requesting 
that  he  would  prescribe  for  a  niece  of  his,  who  was  on 
a  visit  at  his  house,  and  had  been  taken  dangerously  ill. 
Cophagus,  with  his  usual  kindness  of  heart,  immediately 
consented,  and  found  that  Mr  Temple's  report  was  true. 
For  six  weeks  he  attended  the  young  Quakeress,  and 
recovered  her  from  an  imminent  and  painful  disease,  in 
which  she  showed  such  fortitude  and  resignation,  and  such 
unconquerable  good  temper,  that  when  Mr  Cophagus 
returned  to  his  bachelor's  establishment,  he  could  not  help 
reflecting  upon  what  an  invaluable  wife  she  would  make, 
and  how  much  more  cheerful  his  house  would  be  with 
such  a  domestic  partner. 

In  short,  Mr  Cophagus  fell  in  love,  and  like  all  elderly 
gentlemen  who  have  so  long  bottled  up  their  affections,  he 


Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father  309 

became  most  desperately  enamoured ;  and  if  he  loved  Miss 
Judith  Temple  when  he  witnessed  her  patience  and  resig- 
nation under  suffering,  how  much  more  did  he  love  her 
when  he  found  that  she  was  playful,  merry,  and  cheerful, 
without  being  boisterous,  when  restored  to  her  health. 
Mr  Cophagus's  attentions  could  not  be  misunderstood. 
He  told  her  uncle  that  he  had  thought  seriously  of 
wedding  cake — white  favours — marriage — family — and  so 
on ;  and  to  the  young  lady  he  had  put  his  cane  up  to  his 
nose  and  prescribed,  "  A  dose  of  matrimony — to  be  taken 
immediately."  To  Mr  Cophagus  there  was  no  objection 
raised  by  the  lady,  who  was  not  in  her  teens,  or  by  the 
uncle,  who  had  always  respected  him  as  a  worthy  man, 
and  a  good  Christian  ;  but  to  marry  one  who  was  not  oif 
her  persuasion,  was  not  to  be  thought  of.  Her  friends 
would  not  consent  to  it.  Mr  Cophagus  was  therefore 
dismissed,  with  a  full  assurance  that  the  only  objection 
which  offered  was,  that  he  was  not  of  their  society. 

Mr  Cophagus  walked  home  discomforted.  He  sat  down 
on  his  easy  chair,  and  found  it  excessively  uneasy — he  sat 
down  to  his  solitary  meal,  and  found  that  his  own  company 
was  unbearable — he  went  to  bed,  but  found  that  it  was 
impossible  to  go  to  sleep.  The  next  morning,  therefore, 
Mr  Cophagus  returned  to  Mr  Temple,  and  stated  his  wish 
to  be  made  acquainted  with  the  difference  between  the 
tenets  of  the  Quaker  persuasion  and  those  of  the  Estab- 
lished Church.  Mr  Temple  gave  him  an  outline,  which 
appeared  to  Mr  Cophagus  to  be  very  satisfactory,  and  then 
referred  him  to  his  niece  for  fuller  particulars.  When  a 
man  enters  into  an  argument  with  a  full  desire  to  be 
convinced,  and  with  his  future  happiness  perhaps  depending 
upon  that  conviction  ;  and  when,  further,  those  arguments 
are  brought  forward  by  one  of  the  prettiest  voices,  and 
backed  by  the  sweetest  of  smiles,  it  is  not  to  be  wondered 
at  his  soon  becoming  a  proselyte.  Thus  it  was  with  Mr 
Cophagus,  who  in  a  week,  discovered  that  the  peace, 
humility,  and  good-will,  upon  which  the  Quaker  tenets  are 
founded,  were  much  more  congenial  to  the  true  spirit  of 


310  Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father 

the  Christian  revelation  than  the  Athanasian  Creed,  to  be 
sung  or  said  in  our  Established  Churches ;  and  with  this 
conviction,  Mr  Cophagus  requested  admission  into  the 
fraternity,  and  shortly  after  his  admission,  it  was  thought 
advisable  by  the  Friends  that  his  faith  should  be  confirmed 
and  strengthened  by  his  espousal  of  Miss  Judith  Temple, 
with  whom,  at  her  request — and  he  could  refuse  her 
nothing — he  had  repaired  to  the  town  of  Reading,  in  which 
her  relations  all  resided ;  and  Phineas  Cophagus,  of  the 
Society  of  Friends,  declared  himself  to  be  as  happy  as 
a  man  could  be.  "  Good  people,  Japhet — um — honest 
people,  Japhet — don't  fight — little  stiff— spirit  moves — 
and  so  on,"  said  Mr  Cophagus,  as  he  concluded  his 
narrative,  and  then  shaking  me  by  the  hand,  retired  to 
shave  and  dress. 


Chapter   LXII 

I  fall   in  love  with  religion  when   preached   by  one  who  has  the  form 
of  an   angel. 

In  half  an  hour  afterwards  Ephraim  came  in  with  a  draught, 
which  I  was  desired  to  take  by  Mr  Cophagus,  and  then  to 
try  and  sleep.  This  was  good  advice,  and  I  followed  it. 
I  awoke  after  a  long,  refreshing  sleep,  and  found  Mr  and 
Mrs  Cophagus  sitting  in  the  room,  she  at  work  and  he 
occupied  with  a  book.  When  I  opened  my  eyes,  and 
perceived  a  female,  I  looked  to  ascertain  if  it  was  the 
young  person  whom  Ephraim  had  stated  to  be  Susannah 
Temple ;  not  that  I  recollected  her  features  exactly,  but 
I  did  the  contour  of  her  person.  Mrs  Cophagus  was 
taller,  and  I  had  a  fair  scrutiny  of  her  before  they  perceived 
that  I  was  awake.  Her  face  was  very  pleasing,  features 
small  and  regular.  She  appeared  to  be  about  thirty  years 
of  age,  and  was  studiously  neat  and  clean  in  her  person. 
Her  Quaker's  dress  was  not  without  some  little  departure 
from   the   strict   fashion    and    form,    sufficient    to   assist. 


Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father  311 

without  deviating  from,  its  simpJicity.  If  I  might  use 
the  term,  it  was  a  little  coquettish,  and  evinced  that  the 
wearer,  had  she  not  belonged  to  that  sect,  would  have 
shown  great  taste  in  the  adornment  of  her  person. 

Mr  Cophagus,  although  he  did  not  think  so  himself,  as 
I  afterwards  found  out,  was  certainly  much  improved  by 
his  change  of  costume.  His  spindle-shanks,  which,  as  I 
have  before  observed,  were  peculiarly  at  variance  with  his 
little  orbicular,  orange-shaped  stomach,  were  now  con- 
cealed in  loose  trousers,  which  took  oiF  from  the  pro- 
tuberance of  the  latter,  and  added  dignity  to  the  former, 
blending  the  two  together,  so  that  his  roundness  became 
fine  by  degrees,  and  beautifully  less  as  it  descended. 
Altogether,  the  Quaker  dress  added  very  much  to  the 
substantiability  of  his  appearance,  and  was  a  manifest 
improvement,  especially  when  he  wore  his  broad-brimmed 
hat.  Having  satisfied  my  curiosity,  I  moved  the  curtain 
so  as  to  attract  their  attention,  and  Cophagus  came  to  my 
bedside,  and  felt  my  pulse.  "  Good — very  good — all  right 
— little  broth — throw  in  bark — on  his  legs — well  as  ever — 
and  so  on." 

"  I  am  Indeed  much  better  this  afternoon,"  replied  1 5 
**  indeed,  so  well,  that  I  feel  as  if  I  could  get  up." 

"  Pooh  : — tumble  down — never  do — lie  a  bed — get 
strong — wife — Mrs  Cophagus — Japhet — old  friend." 

Mrs  Cophagus  had  risen  from  her  chair,  and  come 
towards  the  bed,  when  her  husband  introduced  her  in  his 
own  fashion.  "I  am  afraid  that  I  have  been  a  great 
trouble,  madam,"  said  I. 

"  Japhet  Newland,  we  have  done  but  our  duty,  even  if 
thou  wert  not,  as  it  appears  that  thou  art,  a  friend  of  my 
husband.  Consider  me,  therefore,  as  thy  sister,  and  I  will 
regard  thee  as  a  brother ;  and  if  thou  wouldst  wish  it, 
thou  shalt  sojourn  with  us,  for  so  hath  my  husband 
communicated  his  wishes  unto  me." 

I  thanked  her  for  her  kind  expressions,  and  took  the 
fair  hand  which  was  offered  In  such  amity.  Cophagus  then 
asked  me  if  I  was  well  enough  to  Inform  him  of  what  had 


312  Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father 

passed  since  our  Jast  meeting,  and  telling  me  that  his  wife 
knew  my  whole  history,  and  that  I  might  speak  before  her, 
he  took  his  seat  by  the  side  of  the  bed,  his  wife  also  drew 
her  chair  nearer,  and  I  commenced  the  narrative  of  what 
had  passed  since  we  parted  in  Ireland.  When  I  had 
finished,  Mr  Cophagus  commenced  as  usual,  **Um — very 
odd — lose  money — bad — grow  honest — good — run  away 
from  friends — bad — not  hung — good — brain  fever — bad — 
come  here — good — stay  with  us — quite  comfortable — and 
so  on." 

"Thou  hast  suffered  much,  friend  Japhet,"  said  Mrs 
Cophagus,  wiping  her  eyes ;  "  and  I  would  almost  venture 
to  say,  hast  been  chastised  too  severely,  were  it  not  that 
those  whom  He  loveth.  He  chastiseth.  Still  thou  art 
saved,  and  now  out  of  danger;  peradventure  thou  wilt 
now  quit  a  vain  world,  and  be  content  to  live  with  us ; 
nay,  as  thou  hast  the  example  of  thy  former  master,  it 
may  perhaps  please  the  Lord  to  advise  thee  to  become  one 
of  us,  and  to  join  us  as  a  Friend.  My  husband  was 
persuaded  to  the  right  path  by  me,"  continued  she,  looking 
fondly  at  him  ;  "  who  knoweth  but  some  of  our  maidens 
may  also  persuade  thee  to  eschew  a  vain,  unrighteous 
world,  and  follow  thy  Redeemer  in  humility  ? " 

"Very  true — um — very  true,"  observed  Cophagus, 
putting  more  Quakerism  than  usual  in  his  style,  and 
drawing  out  his  ums  to  treble  their  usual  length  j  "  Happy 
life — Japhet — um — all  at  peace — quiet  amusements — think 
about  it — um — no  hurry — never  swear — by-and-bye  heh  ! 
— spirit  may  move — um — not  now — talk  about  it — get  well 
— set  up  shop — and  so  on." 

I  was  tired  with  talking  so  much,  and  having  taken 
some  nourishment,  again  fell  asleep.  When  I  awoke  in 
the  evening,  friend  Cophagus  and  his  wife  were  not  in 
the  room ;  but  Susannah  Temple,  whom  I  had  first  seen, 
and  of  whom  I  had  made  inquiry  of  Ephraim,  who  was 
Cophagus's  servant.  She  was  sitting  close  to  the  light 
and  reading,  and  long  did  I  continue  to  gaze  upon  her, 
fearful  of  interrupting  her.     She  was  the  most  beautiful 


Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father  313 

specimen  of  clear  and  transparent  white  that  I  ever  had 
beheld — her  complexion  was  unrivalled — her  eyes  were 
large,  but  I  could  not  ascertain  their  colour,  as  they  were 
cast  down  upon  her  book,  and  hid  by  her  long  fringed 
eyelashes — her  eyebrows  arched  and  regular,  as  if  drawn 
by  a  pair  of  compasses,  and  their  soft  hair  in  beautiful 
contrast  with  her  snowy  forehead — her  hair  was  auburn, 
but  mostly  concealed  within  her  cap — her  nose  was  very 
straight  but  not  very  large,  and  her  mouth  was  perfection. 
She  appeared  to  be  between  seventeen  and  eighteen  years 
old,  as  far  as  I  could  ascertain,  her  figure  was  symmetrically 
perfect.  Dressed  as  she  was  in  the  modest,  simple  garb 
worn  by  the  females  of  the  Society  of  Friends,  she  gave 
an  idea  of  neatness,  cleanliness,  and  propriety,  upon  which 
I  could  have  gazed  for  ever.  She  was,  indeed,  most 
beautiful.  I  felt  her  beauty,  her  purity,  and  I  could  have 
worshipped  her  as  an  angel.  While  I  still  had  my  eyes 
fixed  upon  her  exquisite  features,  she  closed  her  book, 
and  rising  from  her  chair,  came  to  the  side  of  the  bed. 
That  she  might  not  be  startled  at  the  idea  of  my  having 
been  watching  her,  I  closed  my  eyes,  and  pretended  to 
slumber.  She  resumed  her  seat,  and  then  I  changed  my 
position  and  spoke,  **  Is  any  one  there  ? " 

"  Yes,  friend  Newland,  what  is  it  that  thou  requirest  ?  " 
said  she,  advancing.  "  Wouldst  thou  see  Cophagus  or 
Ephraim  ?     I  will  summon  them." 

"O  no,"  replied  I;  "why  should  I  disturb  them  from 
their  amusements  or  employments  ?  I  have  slept  a  long 
while,  and  I  would  like  to  read  a  little  I  think,  if  my  eyes 
are  not  too  weak." 

"Thou  must  not  read,  but  I  may  read  unto  thee," 
replied  Susannah.  "  Tell  me,  what  is  it  that  thou  wouldest 
have  me  read  ?  I  have  no  vain  books ;  but  surely  thou 
thinkest  not  of  them,  after  thy  escape  from  death." 

"  I  care  not  what  is  read,  provided  that  you  read  to  me," 
replied  I. 

"  Nay,  but  thou  shouldest  care ;  and  be  not  wroth  if  I 
say  to  thee,  that  there  is  but  one  book  to  which  thou 


314  Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father 

shouldest  now  listen.  Thou  hast  been  saved  from  deadly 
peril — thou  hast  been  rescued  from  the  jaws  of  death. 
Art  thou  not  thankful  ?  And  to  whom  is  gratitude  most 
due,  but  to  thy  heavenly  Father,  who  hath  been  pleased  to 
spare  thee  ? " 

"  You  are  right,"  replied  I ;  "  then  I  pray  you  to  read 
to  me  from  the  Bible." 

Susannah  made  no  reply,  but  resumed  her  seat,  and 
selecting  those  chapters  most  appropriate  to  my  situation, 
read  them  in  a  beautiful  and  impressive  tone. 


Chapter    LXIII 

Pride  and  love  at  issue — the  latter  is  victorious — I  turn  Quaker  and  recom- 
mence my  old  profession. 

If  the  reader  will  recall  my  narrative  to  his  recollection,  he 
must  observe,  that  religion  had  had  hitherto  but  little  of 
my  thoughts.  I  had  lived  the  life  of  most  who  live  in  this 
world;  perhaps  not  quite  so  correct  in  morals  as  many 
people,  for  my  code  of  morality  was  suited  to  circum- 
stances ;  as  to  religion,  I  had  none.  I  had  lived  in  the 
world,  and  for  the  world.  I  had  certainly  been  well 
instructed  in  the  tenets  of  our  faith  when  I  was  at  the 
Asylum,  but  there,  as  in  most  other  schools,  it  is  made  irk- 
some, as  a  task,  and  is  looked  upon  with  almost  a  feeling  of 
aversion.  No  proper  religious  sentiments  are,  or  can  be, 
inculcated  to  a  large  number  of  scholars ;  it  is  the  parent 
alone  who  can  instil,  by  precept  and  example,  that  true 
sense  of  religion,  which  may  serve  as  a  guide  through  life. 
I  had  not  read  the  Bible  from  the  time  that  I  quitted  the 
Foundling  Hospital.  It  was  new  to  me,  and  when  I  now 
heard  read,  by  that  beautiful  creature,  passages  equally 
beautiful,  and  so  applicable  to  my  situation,  weakened 
with  disease,  and  humbled  in  adversity,  I  was  moved,  even 
unto  tears. 

Susannah  closed  the  book  and  came  to  the  bedside.     I 


Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father  315 

thanked  her :  she  perceived  my  emotion,  and  when  I  held 
out  my  hand  she  did  not  refuse  hers.  I  kissed  it,  and  it 
was  immediately  withdrawn,  and  she  left  the  room. 
Shortly  afterwards  Ephraim  made  his  appearance.  Co- 
phagus  and  his  wife  also  came  that  evening,  but  I  saw  no 
more  of  Susannah  Temple  until  the  following  day,  when  I 
again  requested  her  to  read  to  me. 

I  will  not  detain  the  reader  by  an  account  of  my  recovery. 
In  three  weeks  I  was  able  to  leave  the  room ;  during  that 
time,  I  had  become  very  intimate  with  the  whole  family, 
and  was  treated  as  if  I  belonged  to  it.  During  my  illness 
I  had  certainly  shown  more  sense  of  religion  than  I  had 
ever  done  before,  but  I  do  not  mean  to  say  that  I  was 
really  religious.  I  liked  to  hear  the  Bible  read  by  Susannah, 
and  I  liked  to  talk  with  her  upon  religious  subjects ;  but 
had  Susannah  been  an  ugly  old  woman,  I  very  much  doubt 
if  I  should  have  been  so  attentive.  It  was  her  extreme 
beauty — her  modesty  and  fervour,  which  so  became  her, 
which  enchanted  me.  I  felt  the  beauty  of  religion,  but  it 
was  through  an  earthly  object ;  it  was  beautiful  in  her. 
She  looked  an  angel,  and  I  listened  to  her  precepts  as 
delivered  by  one.  Still,  whatever  may  be  the  cause  by 
which  a  person's  attention  can  be  directed  to  so  important 
a  subject,  so  generally  neglected,  whether  by  fear  of  death, 
or  by  love  towards  an  earthly  object,  the  advantages  are 
the  same;  and  although  very  far  from  what  I  ought  to 
have  been,  I  certainly  was,  through  my  admiration  of  her, 
a  better  man. 

As  soon  as  I  was  on  the  sofa,  wrapped  up  in  one  of  the 
dressing-gowns  of  Mr  Cophagus,  he  told  me  that  the 
clothes  in  which  I  had  been  picked  up  were  all  in  tatters, 
and  asked  me  whether  I  would  like  to  have  others  made 
according  to  the  usual  fashion,  or  like  those  with  whom 
I  should,  he  trusted,  in  future  reside.  I  had  already 
debated  this  matter  in  my  mind.  Return  to  the  world  I 
had  resolved  not  to  do;  to  follow  up  the  object  of  my 
search  appeared  to  me  only  to  involve  me  in  difficulties  ;  and 
what  were  the  intentions  of  Cophagus  with  regard  to  me^ 


3i6  Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father 

I- knew  not.  I  was  hesitating,  for  I  knew  not  what 
answer  to  give,  when  I  perceived  the  pensive,  deep  blue 
eye  of  Susannah  fixed  upon  me,  watching  attentively,  if 
not  eagerly,  for  my  response. 

It  decided  the  point.  "  If,"  replied  I,  "  you  do  not  think 
that  I  should  disgrace  you,  I  should  wish  to  wear  the  dress  of 
the  Society  of  Friends,  although  not  yet  one  of  your  body.*' 

"  But  soon  to  be,  I  trust,"  replied  Mrs  Cophagus. 

"  Alas  !  "  replied  I,  "  I  am  an  outcast ; "  and  I  looked  at 
Susannah  Temple. 

"  Not  so,  Japhet  Newland,"  replied  she,  mildly  ;  "  I  am 
pleased  that  thou  hast  of  thy  own  accord  rejected  vain 
attire.  I  trust  that  thou  wilt  not  find  that  thou  art  without 
friends." 

"  While  I  am  with  you,"  replied  I,  addressing  myself  to 
them  all,  "  I  consider  it  my  duty  to  conform  to  your 
manners  in  every  way,  but  by-and-bye,  when  I  resume  my 
search " 

"  And  why  shouldst  thou  resume  a  search  which  must 
prove  unavailing,  and  but  leads  thee  into  error  and  misfor- 
tune ?  I  am  but  young,  Japhet  Newland,  and  not  perhaps 
so  able  to  advise,  yet  doth  it  appear  to  me,  that  the  search 
can  only  be  availing  when  made  by  those  who  left  thee. 
When  they  wish  for  you,  they  will  seek  thee,  but  thy 
seeking  them  is  vain  and  fruitless." 

*'  But,"  replied  I,  "recollect  that  inquiries  have  already 
been  made  at  the  Foundling,  and  those  who  inquired 
have  been  sent  away  disappointed — they  will  enquire  no 
more." 

"  And  is  a  parent's  love  so  trifling,  that  one  disappoint- 
ment will  drive  him  from  seeking  of  his  child  ?  No,  no, 
Japhet ;  if  thou  art  yearned  for,  thou  wilt  be  found,  and 
fresh  inquiries  will  be  made  ;  but  thy  search  is  unavailing, 
and  already  hast  thou  lost  much  time." 

"  True,  Susannah,  thy  advice  is  good,"  replied  Mrs 
Cophagus ;  "in  following  a  shadow  Japhet  hath  much 
neglected  the  substance ;  it  is  time  that  thou  shouldst 
settle  thyself,  and  earn  thy  livelihood." 


Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father  317 

"  And  do  thy  duty  in  that  path  of  hfe  to  which  it  hath 
pleased  God  to  call  thee,"  continued  Susannah,  who  with 
Mrs  Cophagus  walked  out  of  the  room. 

Cophagus  then  took  up  the  conversation,  and  pointing 
out  the  useiessness  of  my  roving  about,  and  the  propriety 
of  my  settling  in  life,  proposed  that  I  should  take  an 
apothecary's  shop,  for  which  he  would  furnish  the  means, 
and  that  he  could  ensure  me  the  custom  of  the  whole  Society 
of  Friends  in  Reading,  which  was  very  large,  as  there  was 
not  one  of  the  sect  in  that  line  of  business.  "  Become  one  of 
us,  Japhet — good  business — marry  by-and-bye — happy  life 
— little  children — and  so  on."  I  thought  of  Susannah,  and 
was  silent.  Cophagus  then  said,  I  had  better  reflect  upon 
his  offer,  and  make  up  my  determination.  If  that  did  not 
suit  me,  he  would  still  give  me  all  the  assistance  in  his 
power.  I  did  reflect  long  before  I  could  make  up  my 
mind.  I  was  still  worldly  inclined  ;  still  my  fancy  would 
revel  in  the  idea  of  finding  out  my  father  in  high  life,  and, 
as  once  more  appearing  as  a  star  of  fashion,  of  returning 
with  interest  the  contumely  I  had  lately  received,  and 
re-assuming  as  a  right  that  position  in  society  which  I  had 
held  under  false  colours. 

I  could  not  bear  the  idea  of  sinking  at  once  into  a 
tradesman,  and  probably  ending  my  days  in  obscurity. 
Pride  was  still  my  ruling  passion.  Such  were  my  first 
impulses,  and  then  I  looked  upon  the  other  side  of  the 
picture.  I  was  without  the  means  necessary  to  support 
myself ;  I  could  not  return  to  high  life  without  I  discovered 
my  parents  in  the  first  place,  and  in  the  second,  found 
them  to  be  such  as  my  warm  imagination  had  depicted. 
I  had  no  chance  of  finding  them.  I  had  already  been  long 
seeking  in  vain.  I  had  been  twice  taken  up  to  Bow 
Street — nearly  lost  my  life  in  Ireland — had  been  sentenced 
to  death — had  been  insane,  and  recovered  by  a  miracle, 
and  all  in  prosecuting  this  useless  search.  AH  this  had 
much  contributed  to  cure  me  of  the  monomania.  I  agreed 
with  Susannah  that  the  search  must  be  made  by  the  other 
parties,  and  not  by  me.     I  recalled  the  treatment  I  had 


3i8  Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father 

received  from  the  world — the  contempt  with  which  I  had 
been  treated — the  heartlessness  of  high  life,  and  the  little 
chance  of  my  ever  again  being  admitted  into  fashionable 
society. 

I  placed  all  this  in  juxtaposition  with  the  kindness  of 
those  with  whom  I  now  resided — what  they  had  done 
already  for  me,  and  what  they  now  offered,  which  was  to 
make  me  independent  by  my  own  exertions.  I  weighed 
all  in  my  mind  *,  was  still  undecided,  for  my  pride  still 
carried  its  weight ;  when  I  thought  of  the  pure,  beautiful 
Susannah  Temple,  and — my  decision  was  made.  I  would 
not  lose  the  substance  by  running  after  shadows. 

That  evening,  with  many  thanks,  I  accepted  the  kind 
offers  of  Mr  Cophagus,  and  expressed  my  determination  of 
entering  into  the  Society  of  Friends. 

"  Thou  hast  chosen  wisely,"  said  Mrs  Cophagus,  ex- 
tending her  hand  to  me,  "  and  it  is  with  pleasure  that  we 
shall  receive  thee." 

**  I  welcome  thee,  Japhet  Newland,"  said  Susannah,  also 
offering  her  hand,  "  and  I  trust  that  thou  wilt  find  more 
happiness  among  those  with  whom  thou  art  about  to 
sojourn,  than  in  the  world  of  vanity  and  deceit,  in  which 
thou  hast  hitherto  played  thy  part.  No  longer  seek  an 
earthly  father,  who  hath  deserted  thee,  but  a  heavenly 
Father,  who  will  not  desert  thee  in  thy  afflictions." 

**You  shall  direct  me  into  the  right  path,  Susannah," 
replied  I. 

"  I  am  too  young  to  be  a  guide,  Japhet,"  replied  she, 
smiling  -,  "  but  not  too  young,  I  hope,  to  be  a  friend." 

The  next  day  my  clothes  came  home,  and  I  put  them 
on.  I  looked  at  myself  in  the  glass,  and  was  anything 
but  pleased ;  but  as  my  head  was  shaved,  it  was  of  little 
consequence  what  I  wore  5  so  I  consoled  myself.  Mr 
Cophagus  sent  for  a  barber  and  ordered  me  a  wig,  which 
was  to  be  ready  in  a  few  days ;  when  it  was  ready  I  put  it 
on,  and  altogether  did  not  dislike  my  appearance.  I 
flattered  myself  that  if  I  was  a  Quaker,  at  all  events  I  was 
a  very  good  looking  and  a  very  smart  one;  and  when, 


Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father  319 

a  day  or  two  afterwards,  a  reunion  of  friends  took  place 
at  Mr  Cophagus's  house  to  introduce  me  to  them,  I 
perceived,  with  much  satisfaction,  that  there  was  no  young 
man  who  could  compete  with  me.  After  this,  I  was  much 
more  reconciled  to  my  transformation. 


Chapter  LXIV 

I  prosper  in  every  way,  and  become  reconciled  to  my  situation. 

Mr  Cophagus  was  not  idle.  In  a  few  weeks  he  had  rented 
a  shop  for  me,  and  furnished  it  much  better  than  his  own 
in  Smithfield  ;  the  upper  part  of  the  house  was  let  off, 
as  I  was  to  reside  with  the  family.  When  it  was  ready, 
I  went  over  it  with  him,  and  was  satisfied ;  all  I  wished 
for  was  Timothy  as  an  assistant,  but  that  wish  was  un- 
availing, as  I  knew  not  where  to  find  him. 

That  evening  I  observed  to  Mr  Cophagus,  that  I  did 
not  much  like  putting  my  name  over  the  shop.  The  fact 
was,  that  my  pride  forbade  it,  and  I  could  not  bear 
the  idea,  that  Japhet  Newland,  at  whose  knock  every 
aristocratic  door  had  flown  open,  should  appear  in  gold 
letters  above  a  shop-window.  "There  are  many  reasons 
against  it,"  observed  I.  "  One  is,  that  it  is  not  my  real 
name — I  should  like  to  take  the  name  of  Cophagus ; 
another  is,  that  the  name,  being  so  well  known,  may 
attract  those  who  formerly  knew  me,  and  I  should  not 
wish  that  they  should  come  in  and  mock  me  ;  another 
is " 

"Japhet  Newland,"  interrupted  Susannah,  with  more 
severity  than  I  ever  had  seen  in  her  sweet  countenance, 
"  do  not  trouble  thyself  with  giving  thy  reasons,  seeing 
thou  hast  given  every  reason  but  the  right  one,  which  is, 
that  thy  pride  revolts  at  it.'' 

"  I  was  about  to  observe,"  replied  I,  "  that  it  was  a 
name  that  sounded  of  mammon,  and  not  fitting  for  one  of 


320  Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father 

our  persuasion.  But,  Susannah,  you  have  accused  me  of 
pride,  and  I  will  now  raise  no  further  objections.  Japhet 
Newland  it  shall  be,  and  let  us  speak  no  more  upon  the 
subject." 

"  If  I  have  wronged  thee,  Japhet,  much  do  I  crave  thy 
forgiveness,"  replied  Susannah.  **  But  it  is  God  alone 
who  knoweth  the  secrets  of  our  hearts.  I  was  presump- 
tuous, and  you  must  pardon  me." 

"  Susannah,  it  is  I  who  ought  to  plead  for  pardon ;  you 
know  me  better  than  I  know  myself.  It  was  pride,  and 
nothing  but  pride — but  you  have  cured  me." 

**  Truly  have  I  hopes  of  thee  now,  Japhet,"  replied 
Susannah,  smiling.  "Those  who  confess  their  faults 
will  soon  amend  them ;  yet  I  do  think  there  is  some  reason 
in  thy  observation,  for  who  knoweth,  but  meeting  with 
thy  former  associates,  thou  mayst  not  be  tempted  into 
falling  away  ?  Thou  mayst  spell  thy  name  as  thou  listest ; 
and,  peradventure,  it  would  be  better  to  disguise  it." 

So  agreed  Mr  and  Mrs  Cophagus,  and  I  therefore  had 
it  written  Gnow-hnd ;  and  having  engaged  a  person  of  the 
society,  strongly  recommended  to  me,  as  an  assistant,  I 
took  possession  of  my  shop,  and  was  very  soon  busy 
in  making  up  prescriptions,  and  dispensing  my  medicines 
in  all  quarters  of  the  good  town  of  Reading. 

And  I  was  happy.  I  had  enjoyment  during  the  day ; 
my  profession  was,  at  all  events,  liberal.  I  was  dressed 
and  lived  as  a  gentleman,  or  rather  I  should  say  respectably. 
I  was  earning  my  own  livelihood.  I  was  a  useful  member 
of  society,  and  when  I  retired  home  to  meals,  and  late  at 
night,  I  found,  that  if  Cophagus  and  his  wife  had  retired, 
Susannah  Temple  always  waited  up,  and  remained  with 
me  a  few  minutes.  I  had  never  been  in  love  until  I  had 
fallen  in  with  this  perfect  creature ;  but  my  love  for  her 
was  not  the  love  of  the  world  ;  I  could  not  so  depreciate 
her — I  loved  her  as  a  superior  being — I  loved  her  with 
fear  and  trembling.  I  felt  that  she  was  too  pure,  too  holy, 
too  good  for  a  vain  worldly  creature  like  myself.  I  felt 
as  if  my  destiny  depended  upon  her  and  her  fiat ;  that  if 


Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father  321 

she  favoured  me,  my  happiness  in  this  world  and  in  the 
next  were  secured ;  that  if  she  rejected  me,  I  was  cast 
away  for  ever.  Such  was  my  feeHng  for  Susannah 
Temple,  who,  perfect  as  she  was,  was  still  a  woman,  and 
perceived  her  power  over  me  j  but  unlike  the  many  of  her 
sex,  exerted  that  power  only  to  lead  to  what  was  right. 
Insensibly  almost,  my  pride  was  quelled,  and  I  became 
humble  and  religiously  inclined.  Even  the  peculiarities 
of  the  sect,  their  meeting  at  their  places  of  worship,  their 
drawling,  and  their  quaint  manner  of  talking,  became  no 
longer  a  subject  of  dislike.  I  found  out  causes  and  good 
reasons  for  everything  which  before  appeared  strange — 
sermons  in  stones,  and  good  in  everything.  Months 
passed  away — my  business  prospered — I  had  nearly  repaid 
the  money  advanced  by  Mr  Cophagus.  I  was  in  heart  and 
soul  a  Quaker,  and  I  entered  into  the  fraternity  with  a 
feeling  that  I  could  act  up  to  what  I  had  promised.  I  was 
happy,  quite  happy,  and  yet  I  had  never  received  from 
Susannah  Temple  any  further  than  the  proofs  of  sincere 
friendship.  But  I  had  much  of  her  society,  and  we  were 
now  very,  very  intimate.  I  found  out  what  warm,  what 
devoted  feelings  were  concealed  under  her  modest,  quiet 
exterior — how  well  her  mind  was  stored,  and  how  right 
was  that  mind. 

Often  when  I  talked  over  past  events,  did  I  listen  to  her 
remarks,  all  tending  to  one  point,  morality  and  virtue  ; 
often  did  I  receive  from  her  at  first  a  severe,  but  latterly 
a  kind  rebuke,  when  my  discourse  was  light  and  frivolous ; 
but  when  I  talked  of  merry  subjects  which  were  innocent, 
what  could  be  more  joyous  or  more  exhilarating  than  her 
laugh — what  more  intoxicating  than  her  sweet  smile,  when 
she  approved  of  my  sentiments  !  and  when  animated  by 
the  subject,  what  could  be  more  musical  or  more  im- 
passioned than  her  bursts  of  eloquence,  which  were 
invariably  followed  by  a  deep  blush,  when  she  recollected 
how  she  had  been  carried  away  by  excitement  ? 

There  was  one  point  upon  which  I  congratulated 
myself,  which  was,  that  she  had  received  two  or   three 

F  X 


322  Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father 

unexceptionable  ofFers  of  marriage  during  the  six  months 
that  I  had  been  in  her  company,  and  refused  them.  At 
the  end  of  that  period,  thanks  to  the  assistance  I  received 
from  the  Friends,  I  had  paid  Mr  Cophagus  all  the  money 
which  he  had  advanced,  and  found  myself  in  possession 
of  a  flourishing  business,  and  independent.  I  then  re- 
quested that  I  might  be  allowed  to  pay  an  annual  stipend 
for  my  board  and  lodging,  commencing  from  the  time 
I  first  came  to  his  house.  Mr  Cophagus  said  I  was 
right — the  terms  were  easily  arranged,  and  I  was  in- 
dependent. 

Still  my  advances  with  Susannah  were  slow,  but  if 
slow,  they  were  sure.  One  day  I  observed  to  her,  how 
happy  Mr  Cophagus  appeared  to  be  as  a  married  man; 
her  reply  was,  "  He  is,  Japhet ;  he  has  worked  hard  for 
his  independence,  and  he  now  is  reaping  the  fruits  of  his 
industry."  That  is  as  much  as  to  say  that  I  must  do  the 
same,  thought  I,  and  that  I  have  no  business  to  propose 
for  a  wife,  until  I  am  certain  that  I  am  able  to  provide 
for  her.  I  have  as  yet  laid  up  nothing,  and  an  income 
is  not  a  capital.  I  felt  that  whether  a  party  interested 
or  not,  she  was  right,  and  I  redoubled  my  diligence. 


Chapter  LXV 

A  variety  of  the  Quaker  tribe  —  who  had  a  curious  disint^ation    of 
mind  and  body. 

I  WAS  not  yet  weaned  from  the  world,  but  I  was  fast 
advancing  to  that  state,  when  a  very  smart  young  Quaker 
came  on  a  visit  to  Reading.  He  was  introduced  to  Mr 
and  Mrs  Cophagus,  and  was  soon,  as  might  be  expected, 
an  admirer  of  Susannah,  but  he  received  no  encourage- 
ment. He  was  an  idle  person,  and  passed  much  of  his 
time  sitting  in  my  shop,  and  talking  with  me,  and  being 
much  less  reserved  and  guarded  than  the  generality 
of  the  young  men  of  the  sect,  I  gradually  became  intimate 


Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father  323 

with  him.  One  day  when  my  assistant  was  out  he  said 
to  me,  *'  Friend  Gnow-land,  tell  me  candidly,  hast  thou 
ever  seen  my  face  before  ? " 

"  Not  that  I  can  recollect,  friend  Talbot." 

*'  Then  my  recollection  is  better  than  yours,  and  now 
having  obtained  thy  friendship  as  one  of  the  society,  I 
will  remind  thee  of  our  former  acquaintance.  When 
thou  wert  Mr  N-e-w-land,  walking  about  town  with  Major 

Carbonnell,  I  was  Lieutenant  Talbot,  of  the Dragoon 

Guards." 

I  was  dumb  with  astonishment,  and  I  stared  him  in  the 
face. 

"  Yes,"  continued  he,  bursting  into  laughter,  "  such 
is  the  fact.  You  have  thought,  perhaps,  that  you  were 
the  only  man  of  fashion  who  had  ever  been  transformed 
into  a  Quaker ;  now  you  behold  another,  so  no  longer 
imagine  yourself  the  Phoenix  of  your  tribe." 

*'I  do  certainly  recollect  that  name,"  replied  I;  "but 
although,  as  you  must  be  acquainted  with  my  history, 
it  is  very  easy  to  conceive  why  I  have  joined  the  society, 
yet,  upon  what  grounds  you  can  have  so  done,  is  to  me 
inexplicable." 

"  Newland,  it  certainly  does  require  explanation ;  it 
has  been,  I  assert,  my  misfortune,  and  not  my  fault. 
Not  that  I  am  not  happy.  On  the  contrary,  I  feel  that 
I  am  now  in  my  proper  situation.  I  ought  to  have  been 
born  of  Quaker  parents — at  all  events,  I  was  born  a 
Quaker  in  disposition ;  but  I  will  come  to-morrow  early, 
and  then,  if  you  will  give  your  man  something  to  do 
out  of  the  way,  I  will  tell  you  my  history.  I  know  that 
you  will  keep  my  secret." 

The  next  morning  he  came,  and  as  soon  as  we  were 
alone  he  imparted  to  me  what  follows. 

*'  I  recollect  well,  Newland,  when  you  were  one  of 
the  leaders  of  fashion,  I  was  then  in  the  Dragoon  Guards, 
and  although  not  very  intimate  with  you,  had  the  honour 
of  a  recognition  when  we  met  at  parties.  I  cannot  help 
laughing,  upon  my  soul,  when  I  look  at  us  both  now; 


3^4  Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father 

but  never  mind.  I  was  of  course  a  great  deal  with  my 
regiment,  and  at  the  club.  My  father,  as  you  may  not 
perhaps  be  aware,  was  highly  connected,  and  all  the 
family  have  been  brought  up  in  the  army ;  the  question 
of  profession  has  never  been  mooted  by  us,  and  every 
Talbot  has  turned  out  a  soldier  as  naturally  as  a  young 
duck  takes  to  the  water.  Well,  I  entered  the  army, 
admired  my  uniform,  and  was  admired  by  the  young 
ladies.  Before  I  received  my  lieutenant's  commission, 
my  father,  the  old  gentleman,  died,  and  left  me  a  younger 
brother's  fortune  of  four  hundred  per  annum ;  but,  as 
my  uncle  said,  *  It  was  quite  enough  for  a  Talbot,  who 
would  push  himself  forward  in  his  profession,  as  the 
Talbots  had  ever  done  before  him.'  I  soon  found  out 
that  my  income  was  not  sufficient  to  enable  me  to  con- 
tinue in  the  Guards,  and  my  uncle  was  very  anxious 
that  I  should  exchange  into  a  regiment  on  service.  I 
therefore,  by  purchase,  obtained  a  company  in  the  23rd, 
ordered  out  to  reduce  the  French  colonies  in  the  West 
Indies,  and  I  sailed  with  all  the  expectation  of  covering 
myself  with  as  much  glory  as  the  Talbots  had  done  from 
time  immemorial.  We  landed,  and  in  a  short  time  the 
bullets  and  grape  were  flying  in  all  directions,  and  then 
I  discovered,  what  I  declare  never  for  a  moment  came 
into  my  head  before,  to  wit — that  I  had  mistaken  my 
profession." 

**  How  do  you  mean,  Talbot  ? " 

**  Mean !  why,  that  I  was  deficient  in  a  certain  qualifi- 
cation, which  never  was  before  denied  to  a  Talbot — 
courage." 

"  And  you  never  knew  that  before  ? " 

"  Never,  upon  my  honour ;  my  mind  was  always  full  of 
courage.  In  my  mind's  eye  I  built  castles  of  feats  of 
bravery,  which  should  eclipse  all  the  Talbots,  from  him 
who  burnt  Joan  of  Arc,  down  to  the  present  day.  I  assure 
you,  that  surprised  as  other  people  were,  no  one  was  more 
surprised  than  myself.  Our  regiment  was  ordered  to 
advance,  and  I  led  on  my  company  ;  the  bullets  flew  like 


Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father  325 

hail.  I  tried  to  go  on,  but  I  could  not ;  at  last,  notwith- 
standing all  my  endeavours  to  the  contrary,  I  fairly  took  to 
my  heels.  I  was  met  by  the  commanding  officer — in  fact, 
I  ran  right  against  him.  He  ordered  me  back,  and  I 
returned  to  my  regiment,  not  feeling  at  all  afraid.  Again 
I  was  in  the  fire,  again  I  resisted  the  impulse,  but  it  was  of 
no  use,  and  at  last,  just  before  the  assault  took  place,  I  ran 
away  as  if  the  devil  was  after  me.     Wasn't  it  odd  ?  " 

"  Very  odd,  indeed,"  replied  I,  laughing. 

"  Yes,  but  you  do  not  exactly  understand  why  it  was 
odd.  You  know  what  philosophers  tell  you  about  volition  ; 
and  that  the  body  is  governed  by  the  mind,  consequently 
obeys  it ;  now,  you  see,  in  my  case,  it  was  exactly  reversed. 
I  tell  you,  that  it  is  a  fact,  that  in  mind  I  am  as  brave  as 
any  man  in  existence ;  but  I  had  a  cowardly  carcass,  and 
what  is  still  worse,  it  proved  the  master  of  my  mind,  and 
ran  away  with  it.  I  had  no  mind  to  run  away  j  on  the 
contrary,  I  wished  to  have  been  of  the  forlorn  hope,  and 
had  volunteered,  but  was  refused.  Surely,  if  I  had  not 
courage  I  should  have  avoided  such  a  post  of  danger.  Is 
it  not  so  ?  " 

"  It  certainly  appears  strange,  that  you  should  volunteer 
for  the  forlorn  hope,  and  then  run  away." 

"  That's  just  what  I  say.  I  have  the  soul  of  the  Talbots, 
but  a  body  which  don't  belong  to  the  family,  and  too 
powerful  for  the  soul." 

"  So  it  appears.     Well,  go  on." 

"  It  was  go  off,  instead  of  going  on.  I  tried  again  that 
day  to  mount  the  breach,  and  as  the  fire  was  over,  I 
succeeded  5  but  there  was  a  mark  against  me,  and  it  was 
intimated  that  I  should  have  an  opportunity  of  redeeming 
my  character." 

**Well?" 

"  There  was  a  fort  to  be  stormed  the  next  day,  and  I 
requested  to  lead  my  company  in  advance.  Surely  that 
was  no  proof  of  want  of  courage  ?  Permission  was  granted. 
We  were  warmly  received,  and  I  felt  that  my  legs  refused 
to  advance  *,  so  what  did  I  do — I  tied  my  sash  round  my 


^26  Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father 

thigh,  and  telling  the  men  that  I  was  wounded,  requested 
they  would  carry  me  to  the  attack.  Surely  that  was 
courage  ?  " 

**  Most  undoubtedly  so.     It  was  like  a  Talbot." 

"  We  were  at  the  foot  of  the  breach  ;  when  the  shot 
flew  about  me,  I  kicked  and  wrestled  so,  that  the  two  men 
who  carried  me  were  obliged  to  let  me  go,  and  my  rascally 
body  was  at  liberty.  I  say  unfortunately,  for  only  conceive, 
if  they  had  carried  me  wounded  up  the  breach,  what  an 
heroic  act  it  would  have  been  considered  on  my  part  ;  but 
fate  decided  it  otherwise.  If  I  had  lain  still  when  they 
dropped  me,  I  should  have  done  well,  but  I  was  anxious  to 
get  up  the  breach,  that  is,  my  mind  was  so  bent ;  but  as 
soon  as  I  got  on  my  legs,  confound  them  if  they  didn't  run 
away  with  me,  and  then  I  was  found  half  a  mile  from  the 
fort  with  a  pretended  wound.  That  was  enough  j  I  had  a 
hint  that  the  sooner  I  went  home  the  better.  On  account 
of  the  family  I  was  permitted  to  sell  out,  and  I  then 
walked  the  streets  as  a  private  gentleman,  but  no  one  would 
speak  to  me.  I  argued  the  point  with  several,  but  they 
were  obstinate,  and  would  not  be  convinced ;  they  said  that 
it  was  no  use  talking  about  being  brave,  if  I  ran  away." 

"  They  were  not  philosophers,  Talbot." 

**  No ;  they  could  not  comprehend  how  the  mind  and 
the  body  could  be  at  variance.  It  was.  no  use  arguing — 
they  would  have  it  that  the  movements  of  the  body 
depended  upon  the  mind,  and  that  I  had  made  a  mistake — 
and  that  I  was  a  coward  in  soul  as  well  as  body." 

"  Well,  what  did  you  do  ? " 

"  Oh,  I  did  nothing  !  I  had  a  great  mind  to  knock  them 
down,  but  as  I  knew  my  body  would  not  assist  me,  I 
thought  it  better  to  leave  it  alone.  However,  they  taunted 
me  so,  by  calling  me  fighting  Tom,  that  my  uncle  shut  his 
door  upon  me  as  a  disgrace  to  the  family,  saying,  he  wished 
the  first  bullet  had  laid  me  dead — very  kind  of  him  ; — at 
last  my  patience  was  worn  out,  and  I  looked  about  to  find 
whether  there  were  not  some  people  who  did  not  consider 
courage  as  a  sine  qua  non,     I  found  that  the  Quakers'  tenets 


Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father  327 

were  against  fighting,  and  therefore  courage  could  not  be 
necessary,  so  I  have  joined  them,  and  I  find  that,  if  not  a 
good  soldier,  I  am,  at  all  events,  a  very  respectable 
Quaker  ;  and  now  you  have  the  whole  of  my  story — and 
tell  me  if  you  are  of  my  opinion." 

"  Why,  really  it's  a  very  difficult  point  to  decide.  I 
never  heard  such  a  case  of  disintegration  before.  I  must 
think  upon  it." 

"  Of  course,  you  will  not  say  a  word  about  it, 
Newland." 

"  Never  fear,  I  will  keep  your  secret,  Talbot.  How 
long  have  you  worn  the  dress  ?  " 

"  Oh,  more  than  a  year.  By-the-bye,  what  a  nice  young 
person  that  Susannah  Temple  is.  I've  a  great  mind  to 
propose  for  her." 

"  But  you  must  first  ascertain  what  your  body  says  to  it, 
Talbot,"  replied  I,  sternly.  **  I  allow  no  one  to  interfere 
with  me,  Quaker  or  not." 

"  My  dear  fellow,  I  beg  your  pardon,  I  shall  think  no 
more  about  her,"  said  Talbot,  rising  up,  as  he  observed 
that  I  looked  very  fierce.  "  I  wish  you  a  good  morning. 
I  leave  Reading  to-morrow.  I  will  call  on  you,  and  say 
good-bye,  if  I  can ; "  and  I  saw  no  more  of  Friend  Talbot, 
whose  mind  was  all  courage,  but  whose  body  was  so 
renegade. 

Chapter    LXVI 

I  fall  in  with  Timothy. 

About  a  month  after  this,  I  heard  a  sailor  with  one  leg, 
and  a  handful  of  ballads,  singing  in  a  most  lachrymal  tone, 

"  Why,  what's  that  to  you  if  my  eyes  I'm  a  wiping  ? 
A  tear  is  a  pleasure,  d'ye  see,  in  its  way  " — 

"  Bless  your  honour,  shy  a  copper  to  Poor  Jack,  who's 
lost  his  leg  in  the  sarvice.  Thanky,  your  honour,"  and 
he  continued, 


328  Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father 

"  It's  nonsense  for  trifles,  I  own,  to  be  piping, 
But  they  who  can't  pity — why  I  pities  they. 
Says  the  captain,  says  he  ;  I  shall  never  forget  it, 
Of  courage,  you  know,  boys,  the  true  from  the  sham, " 

"Back  your  maintopsail,  your  worship,  for  half  a 
minute,  and  just  assist  a  poor  dismantled  craft,  who  has 
been  riddled  in  the  wars. — *'Tis  a  furious  lion.'  Long 
life  to  your  honour — *  In  battle  so  let  it — ' 

"  'Tis  a  furious  lion,  in  battle  so  let  it ; 
But  duty  appeased — but  duty  appeased — 

**  Buy  a  song,  young  woman,  to  sing  to  your  sweetheart, 
while  you  sit  on  his  knee  in  the  dog-watch — 

"  But  duty  appeased  'tis  the  heart  of  a  lamb." 

I  believe  there  are  few  people  who  do  not  take  a  strong 
interest  in  the  English  sailor,  particularly  in  one  who  has 
been  maimed  in  the  defence  of  his  country.  I  always 
have,  and  as  I  heard  the  poor  disabled  fellow  bawling  out 
his  ditty,  certainly  not  with  a  very  remarkable  voice  or 
execution,  I  pulled  out  the  drawer  behind  the  counter, 
and  took  out  some  halfpence  to  give  him.  When  I  caught 
his  eye  I  beckoned  to  him,  and  he  entered  the  shop. 
**Here,  my  good  fellow,"  said  I,  "although  a  man  of 
peace  myself,  yet  I  feel  for  those  who  suffer  in  the  wars ; " 
and  I  put  the  money  to  him. 

"  May  your  honour  never  know  a  banyan  day,"  replied 
the  sailor  ;  "  and  a  sickly  season  for  you,  into  the  bargain." 

"Nay,  friend,  that  is  not  a  kind  wish  to  others,"  re- 
plied I. 

The  sailor  fixed  his  eyes  earnestly  upon  me,  as  if  in 
astonishment,  for,  until  I  had  answered,  he  had  not  looked 
at  me  particularly. 

"  What  are  you  looking  at  ? "  said  I. 

"  Good  heavens  !  "  exclaimed  he.  "  It  is — yet  it  cannot 
be ! " 

"  Cannot  be  !  what,  friend  ?  " 


Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father  329 

He  ran  out  of  the  door,  and  read  the  name  over  the 
shop,  and  then  came  in,  and  sank  upon  a  chair  outside  of 
the  counter.  "Japhet  —  I  have  found  you  at  last'" 
exclaimed  he,  faintly. 

"  Good  Heaven  !  who  are  you  ? " 

He  threw  off  his  hat,  with  false  ringlets  fastened  to  the 
inside  of  it,  and  I  beheld  Timothy,  In  a  moment  I  sprang 
over  the  counter,  and  was  in  his  arms.  "  Is  it  possible," 
exclaimed  I,  after  a  short  silence  on  both  sides,  "  that  I 
find  you,  Timothy,  a  disabled  sailor  ? " 

"Is  it  possible,  Japhet,"  replied  Timothy,  "that  I  find 
you  a  broad-brimmed  Quaker  ? " 

"  Even  so,  Timothy.     I  am  really  and  truly  one." 

"  Then  you  are  less  disguised  than  I  am,"  replied 
Timothy,  kicking  off  his  wooden  leg,  and  letting  down  his 
own,  which  had  been  tied  up  to  his  thigh,  and  concealed 
in  his  wide  blue  trousers.  "  I  am  no  more  a  sailor  than 
you  are,  Japhet,  and  since  you  left  me  have  never  yet  seen 
the  salt  water,  which  I  talk  and  sing  so  much  about." 

"Then  thou  hast  been  deceiving,  Timothy,  which  I 
regret  much." 

"  Now  I  do  perceive  that  you  are  a  Quaker,"  replied 
Tim ;  "  but  do  not  blame  me  until  you  have  heard  my 
story.  Thank  God,  I  have  found  you  at  last.  But  tell 
me,  Japhet,  you  will  not  send  me  away — will  you  ?  If 
your  dress  is  changed,  your  heart  is  not.  Pray  answer 
me,  before  I  say  anything  more.  You  know  I  can  be 
useful  here." 

"  Indeed,  Timothy,  I  have  often  wished  for  you  since  I 
have  been  here,  and  it  will  be  your  own  fault  if  I  part 
with  you.  You  shall  assist  me  in  the  shop  \  but  you  must 
dress  like  me." 

"Dress  like  you !  have  I  not  always  dressed  like  you  ? 
When  we  started  from  Cophagus's,  were  we  not  dressed 
much  alike  ?  did  we  not  wear  spangled  jackets  together  ? 
did  I  not  wear  your  livery,  and  belong  to  you .?  I'll  put 
on  anything,  Japhet — but  we  must  not  part  again." 

"  My  dear  Timothy,  I  trust  we  shall  not ;  but  I  expect 


330  Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father 

my  assistant  here  soon,  and  do  not  wish  that  he  should  see 
you  in  that  garb.  Go  to  a  small  public-house  at  the 
farther  end  of  this  street,  and  when  you  see  me  pass,  come 
out  to  me,  and  we  will  walk  out  into  the  country,  and 
consult  together." 

"  I  have  put  up  at  a  small  house  not  far  off,  and  have 
some  clothes  there ;  I  will  alter  my  dress  and  meet  you. 
God  bless  you,  Japhet." 

Timothy  then  picked  up  his  ballads,  which  were  scat- 
tered on  the  floor,  put  up  his  leg,  and  putting  on  his 
wooden  stump,  hastened  away,  after  once  more  silently 
pressing  my  hand. 

In  half  an  hour  my  assistant  returned,  and  I  desired  him 
to  remain  in  the  shop,  as  I  was  going  out  on  business.  I 
then  walked  to  the  appointed  rendezvous,  and  was  soon 
joined  by  Tim,  who  had  discarded  his  sailor's  disguise,  and 
was  in  what  is  called  a  shabby  genteel  sort  of  dress.  After 
the  first  renewed  greeting,  I  requested  Tim  to  let  me  know 
what  had  occurred  to  him  since  our  separation. 

"  You  cannot  imagine,  Japhet,  what  my  feelings  were 
when  I  found,  by  your  note,  that  you  had  left  me.  I  had 
perceived  how  unhappy  you  had  been  for  a  long  while,  and 
I  was  equally  distressed,  although  I  knew  not  the  cause. 
I  had  no  idea  until  I  got  your  letter,  that  you  had  lost  all 
your  money  -,  and  I  felt  it  more  unkind  of  you  to  leave  me 
then,  than  if  you  had  been  comfortable  and  independent. 
As  for  looking  after  you,  that  I  knew  would  be  useless ; 
and  I  immediately  went  to  Mr  Masterton,  to  take  his  advice 
as  to  how  I  should  proceed.  Mr  Masterton  had  received 
your  letter,  and  appeared  to  be  very  much  annoyed.  *  Very 
foolish  boy,'  said  he,  *  but  there  is  nothing  that  can  be  done 
now.  He  is  mad,  and  that  is  all  that  can  be  said  in  his 
excuse.  You  must  do  as  he  tells  you,  I  suppose,  and  try 
the  best  for  yourself.  I  will  help  you  in  any  way  that  I 
can,  my  poor  fellow,'  said  he,  *  so  don't  cry.'  I  went  back 
to  the  house  and  collected  together  your  papers,  which  I 
sealed  up.  I  knew  that  the  house  was  to  be  given  up  in  a 
few  days.     I  sold  the  furniture,  and  made  the  best  I  could 


Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father  331 

of  the  remainder  of  your  wardrobe,  and  other  things  of 
value  that  you  had  left  j  indeed,  everything,  with  the 
exception  of  the  dressing-case  and  pistols,  which  had  be- 
longed to  Major  Carbonnell,  and  I  thought  you  might 
perhaps  some  day  like  to  have  them." 

'*  How  very  kind  of  you,  Timothy,  to  think  of  me  in  that 
way  !  I  shall  indeed  be  glad ;  but  no — what  have  I  to  do 
with  pistols  or  silver  dressing-cases  now  ?  I  must  not  have 
them,  but  still  I  thank  you  all  the  same." 

"  The  furniture  and  everything  else  fetched  ;^43o,  after 
all  expenses  were  paid." 

"  I  am  glad  of  it,  Timothy,  for  your  sake ;  but  I  am 
sorry,  judging  by  your  present  plight,  that  it  appears  to 
have  done  you  but  little  good." 

"  Because  I  did  not  make  use  of  it,  Japhet.  What  could 
I  do  with  all  that  money  ?  I  took  it  to  Mr  Masterton,  with 
all  your  papers,  and  the  dressing-case  and  pistols  ; — he  has 
it  now  ready  for  you  when  you  ask  for  it.  He  was  very 
kind  to  me,  and  offered  to  do  anything  for  me ;  but  I 
resolved  to  go  in  search  of  you.  I  had  more  money  in  my 
pocket  when  you  went  away  than  I  generally  have,  and 
with  the  surplus  of  what  you  left  for  the  bills,  I  had  twelve 
or  fourteen  pounds.  So  I  wished  Mr  Masterton  good-bye, 
and  have  ever  since  been  on  my  adventures  in  search  of 
my  master." 

**  Not  master,  Timothy,  say  rather  of  your  friend." 

**  Well,  of  both  if  you  please,  Japhet ;  and  very  pretty 
adventures  I  have  had,  I  assure  you,  and  some  very  hair- 
breadth escapes." 

"  I  think,  when  we  compare  notes,  mine  will  be  found 
most  eventful,  Timothy  ;  but  we  can  talk  of  them,  and  com- 
pare notes  another  time.  At  present,  whom  do  you  think 
I  am  residing  with  ?  " 

"  A  Quaker,  I  presume." 

"  You  have  guessed  right  so  far :  but  who  do  you  think 
that  Quaker  is  ?  " 

^*  There  I'm  at  fault." 

"  Mr  Cophagus." 


^^2  Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father 

At  this  intelligence  Timothy  gave  a  leap  in  the  air, 
turned  round  on  his  heel,  and  tumbled  on  the  grass  in  a  fit 
of  immoderate  laughter. 

*'  Cophagus  ! — a  Quaker  !  "  cried  he  at  last.  "  Oh  !  I 
long  to  see  him.  SnufHe,  snuffle — broad  brims — wide 
skirts — and  so  on.     Capital !  " 

"It  is  very  true,  Timothy,  but  you  must  not  mock  at 
the  persuasion." 

"  I  did  not  intend  it,  Japhet,  but  there  is  something  to 
me  so  ridiculous  in  the  idea.  But,"  continued  Timothy, 
"is  it  not  still  stranger,  that,  after  having  separated  so 
many  years,  we  should  all  meet  again — and  that  I  should 
find  Mr  Cophagus — an  apothecary's  shop — you  dispensing 
medicines — and  I — as  I  hope  to  be — carrying  them  about 
as  I  did  before.  Well,  I  will  row  in  the  same  boat,  and  I 
will  be  a  Quaker  as  well  as  you  both." 

"  Well,  we  will  now  return,  and  I  will  take  you  to  Mr 
Cophagus,  who  will,  I  am  sure,  be  glad  to  see  you." 

"  First,  Japhet,  let  me  have  some  Quaker's  clothes — I 
should  prefer  it." 

"  You  shall  have  a  suit  of  mine,  Timothy,  since  you  wish 
it ;  but  recollect  it  is  not  at  all  necessary,  nor  indeed  will  it 
be  permitted  that  you  enter  into  the  sect  without  prepara- 
tory examination  as  to  your  fitness  for  admission." 

I  then  went  to  the  shop,  and  sending  out  the  assistant, 
walked  home  and  took  out  a  worn  suit  of  clothes,  with 
which  I  hastened  to  Timothy.  He  put  them  on  in  the 
shop,  and  then  walking  behind  the  counter,  said,  **  This  is 
my  place,  and  here  I  shall  remain  as  long  as  you  do." 

"  I  hope  so,  Timothy  •,  as  for  the  one  who  is  with  me  at 
present,  I  can  easily  procure  him  other  employment,  and  he 
will  not  be  sorry  to  go,  for  he  is  a  married  man,  and  does 
not  like  the  confinement." 

"  I  have  some  money,"  said  Timothy,  taking  out  of  his 
old  clothes  a  dirty  rag,  and  producing  nearly  twenty 
pounds.     **  I  am  well  off,  you  see." 

"  You  are,  indeed,"  replied  I. 

"  Yes,  there  is  nothing  like  being  a  sailor  with  one  leg, 


Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father  ^^^ 

singing  ballads.  Do  you  know,  Japhet,  that  sometimes  I 
have  taken  more  than  a  pound  a  day  since  I  have  shammed 
the  sailor  ? " 

"  Not  very  honestly,  Tim." 

"  Perhaps  not,  Japhet ;  but  it  is  very  strange,  and  yet 
very  true,  that  when  honest  I  could  make  nothing,  and 
when  I  deceived,  I  have  done  very  well." 


Chapter   LXVII 

Timothy  commences  his  narrative  of  his  search  after  Japhet. 

I  COULD  not  help  calling  to  mind  that  the  same  conse- 
quences as  Timothy  related  in  the  last  chapter  had 
occurred  to  me  during  my  eventful  career;  but  I  had 
long  considered  that  there  was  no  excuse  for  dishonesty, 
and  that,  in  the  end,  it  would  only  lead  to  exposure  and 
disgrace.  I  went  home  early  in  the  evening  to  introduce 
Timothy  to  Mr  Cophagus,  who  received  him  with  great 
kindness,  and  agreed  immediately  that  he  ought  to  be 
with  me  in  the  shop.  Timothy  paid  his  respects  to  the 
ladies,  and  then  went  down  with  Ephraim,  who  took 
him  under  his  protection.  In  a  few  days,  he  was  as 
established  with  us  as  if  he  had  been  living  with  us  for 
months.  I  had  some  trouble,  at  first,  in  checking  his 
vivacity  and  turn  for  ridicule;  but  that  was  gradually 
effected,  and  I  found  him  not  only  a  great  acquisition, 
but,  as  he  always  was,  a  cheerful  and  affectionate  com- 
panion. I  had,  during  the  first  days  of  our  meeting, 
recounted  my  adventures,  and  made  many  inquiries  of 
Timothy  relative  to  my  few  friends.  He  told  me  that 
from  Mr  Masterton  he  had  learnt  that  Lady  de  Clare 
and  Fleta  had  called  upon  him  very  much  afflicted  with 
the  contents  of  my  letter — that  Lord  Windermear  also 
had  been  very  much  vexed  and  annoyed — that  Mr 
Masterton  had  advised  him   to  obtain   another  situation 


334  Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father 

as  a  valet,  which  he  had  refused,  and,  at  the  same  time, 
told  him  his  intention  of  searching  for  me.  He  had 
promised  Mr  Masterton  to  let  him  know  if  he  found 
me,  and  then  bade  him  farewell. 

"I  used  to  lie  in  bed,  Japhet,"  continued  Timothy, 
"and  think  upon  the  best  methcMi  of  proceeding.  At 
last,  I  agreed  to  myself,  that  to  look  for  you  as  you 
looked  after  your  father,  would  be  a  wild-goose  chase, 
and  that  my  money  would  soon  be  gone;  so  I  reflected 
whether  I  might  not  take  up  some  roving  trade  which 
would  support  me,  and,  at  the  same  time,  enable  me  to 
proceed  from  place  to  place.  What  do  you  think  was 
my  first  speculation  ?  Why,  I  saw  a  man  with  a  dog 
harnessed  in  a  little  cart,  crying  dog's  meat  and  cat's 
meat,  and  I  said  to  myself,  *  Now  there's  the  very  thing — 
there's  a  profession — I  can  travel  and  earn  my  livelihood.' 
I  entered  into  conversation  with  him,  as  he  stopped  at  a 
low  public-house,  treating  him  to  a  pot  of  beer ;  and 
having  gained  all  I  wanted  as  to  the  mysteries  of  the 
profession,  I  called  for  another  pot,  and  proposed  that 
I  should  purchase  his  whole  concern,  down  to  his  knife 
and  apron.  The  fellow  agreed,  and  after  a  good  deal 
of  bargaining,  I  paid  him  three  guineas  for  the  set  out  or 
set  up,  which  you  please.  He  asked  me  whether  I  meant 
to  hawk  in  London  or  not,  and  I  told  him  no,  that  I 
should  travel  the  country.  He  advised  the  western  road, 
as  there  were  more  populous  towns  in  it.  Well,  we  had 
another  pot  to  clench  the  bargain,  and  I  paid  down  the 
money  and  took  possession,  quite  delighted  with  my  new 
occupation.  Away  I  went  to  Brentford,  selling  a  bit 
here  and  there  by  the  way,  and  at  last  arrived  at  the  very 
bench  where  we  had  sat  down  together  and  eaten  our 
meal." 

"  It  is  strange  that  I  did  the  same,  and  a  very  unlucky 
bench  it  proved  to  me." 

"So  it  did  to  me,  as  you  shall  hear.  I  had  taken  up 
my  quarters  at  that  inn,  and  for  three  days  had  done  very 
well  in  Brentford.     On  the  third  evening  I  had  just  come 


Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father  335 

back,  it  was  nearly  dusk,  and  I  took  my  seat  on  the  bench, 
thinking  of  you.  My  dog,  rather  tired,  was  lying  down 
before  the  cart,  when  all  of  a  sudden  I  heard  a  sharp 
whistle.  The  dog  sprang  on  his  legs  immediately,  and 
ran  off  several  yards  before  I  could  prevent  him.  The 
whistle  was  repeated,  and  away  went  the  dog  and  cart 
like  lightning.  I  ran  as  fast  as  I  could,  but  could  not 
overtake  him;  and  I  perceived  that  his  old  master  was 
running  ahead  of  the  dog  as  hard  as  he  could,  and  this 
was  the  reason  why  the  dog  was  off.  Still  I  should, 
I  think,  have  overtaken  him,  but  an  old  woman  coming 
out  of  a  door  with  a  saucepan  to  pour  the  hot  water  into 
the  gutter,  I  knocked  her  down  and  tumbled  right  over 
her  into  a  cellar  without  steps.  There  I  was,  and  before 
I  could  climb  out  again,  man,  dog,  cart,  cat's  meat  and 
dog's  meat,  had  all  vanished,  and  I  have  never  seen  them 
since.  The  rascal  got  clear  off,  and  I  was  a  bankrupt. 
So  much  for  my  first  set  up  in  business." 

"  You  forgot  to  purchase  the  good-ivill  when  you  made 
your  bargain,  Timothy,  for  the  stock  in  trade." 

"  Very  true,  Japhet.  However,  after  receiving  a  very 
fair  share  of  abuse  from  the  old  woman,  and  a  plaister  of 
hot  greens  in  my  face — for  she  went  supperless  to  bed, 
rather  than  not  have  her  revenge — I  walked  back  to  the 
inn,  and  sat  down  in  the  tap.  The  two  men  next  to  me 
were  hawkers ;  one  carried  a  large  pack  of  dimities  and 
calicoes,  and  the  other  a  box  full  of  combs,  needles,  tapes, 
scissors,  knives,  and  mock-gold  trinkets.  I  entered  into 
conversation  with  them,  and,  as  I  again  stood  treat,  I  soon 
was  very  intimate.  They  told  me  what  their  profits  were, 
and  how  they  contrived  to  get  on,  and  I  thought,  for  a 
rambling  life,  it  was  by  no  means  an  unpleasant  one  *,  so 
having  obtained  all  the  information  I  required,  I  went  back 
to  town,  took  out  a  hawker's  licence,  for  which  I  paid  two 
guineas,  and  purchasing  at  a  shop,  to  which  they  gave  me 
a  direction,  a  pretty  fair  quantity  of  articles  in  the  tape  and 
scissor  line,  off  I  set  once  more  on  my  travels.  I  took  the 
north  road   this   time,  and  picked  up  a  very  comfortable 


33^  Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father 

subsistence,  selling  my  goods  for  a  few  halfpence  here  and 
a  few  halfpence  there,  at  the  cottages  as  I  passed  by ;  but 
I  soon  found  out,  that  without  a  newspaper,  I  was  not  a 
confirmed  hawker,  and  the  more  radical  the  newspaper  the 
better.  A  newspaper  will  pay  half  the  expenses  of  a 
hawker,  if  he  can  read.  At  every  house,  particularly 
every  small  hedge  ale-house,  he  is  received,  and  placed  in 
the  best  corner  of  the  chimney,  and  has  his  board  and 
lodging,  with  the  exception  of  what  he  drinks,  gratis,  if 
he  will  pull  out  the  newspaper  and  read  it  to  those  around 
him  who  cannot  read,  particularly  if  he  can  explain  what 
is  unintelligible.  Now  I  became  a  great  politician,  and, 
moreover,  a  great  radical,  for  such  were  the  politics  of  all 
the  lower  classes.  I  lived  well,  slept  well,  and  sold  my 
wares  very  fast.  I  did  not  take  more  than  three  shillings 
in  the  day,  yet,  as  two  out  of  the  three  were  clear  profit, 
I  did  pretty  well.  However,  a  little  accident  happened 
Vhich  obliged  me  to  change  my  profession,  or  at  least,  the 
nature  of  the  articles  which  I  dealt  in." 

**What  was  that?" 

**  A  mere  trifle.  I  had  arrived  late  at  a  small  ale-house, 
had  put  up  my  pack,  which  was  in  a  painted  deal  box,  on 
the  table  in  the  tap-room,  and  was  very  busy,  after  reading 
a  paragraph  in  the  newspaper,  making  a  fine  speech,  which 
I  always  found  was  received  with  great  applause,  and 
many  shakes  of  the  hand,  as  a  prime  good  fellow — a  speech 
about  community  of  rights,  agrarian  division,  and  the 
propriety  of  an  equal  distribution  of  property,  proving 
that,  as  we  were  all  born  alike,  no  one  had  a  right  to  have 
more  property  than  his  neighbour.  The  people  had  all 
gathered  round  me,  applauding  violently,  when  I  thought 
I  might  as  well  look  after  my  pack,  which  had  been  for 
some  time  hidden  from  my  sight  by  the  crowd,  when,  to 
my  mortification,  I  found  out  that  my  earnest  assertions  on 
the  propriety  of  community  of  property  had  had  such  an 
influence  upon  some  of  my  listeners,  that  they  had  walked 
off  with  my  pack  and  its  contents.  Unfortunately,  I  had 
deposited  in  my  boxes  all  my  money,  considering  it  safer 


Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father  '>^'>^'-j 

there  than  in  my  pockets,  and  had  nothing  left  but  about 
seventeen  shillings  in  silver,  which  I  had  received  within 
the  last  three  days.  Every  one  was  very  sorry,  but  no 
one  knew  anything  about  it ;  and  when  I  challenged  the 
landlord  as  answerable,  he  called  me  a  radical  blackguard, 
and  turned  me  out  of  the  door." 

**If  you  had  looked  a  little  more  after  your  own  property, 
and  interfered  less  with  that  of  other  people,  you  would 
have  done  better,  Tim,"  observed  I,  laughing. 

"Very  true;  but,  at  all  events,  I  have  never  been  a 
radical  since,"  replied  Tim.  "But  to  go  on.  I  walked 
off  to  the  nearest  town,  and  I  commenced  in  a  more 
humble  way.  I  purchased  a  basket,  and  then,  with  the 
remainder  of  my  money,  I  bought  the  commonest  crockery 
ware,  such  as  basins,  jugs,  mugs,  and  putting  them  on  my 
head,  off  I  went  again  upon  my  new  speculation.  I 
wandered  about  with  my  crockery,  but  it  was  hard  work. 
I  could  not  reap  the  profits  which  I  did  as  a  hawker  and 
pedlar.  I  averaged,  however,  from  seven  to  nine  shillings 
a  week  and  that  was  about  sufficient  for  my  support.  I 
went  down  into  as  many  kitchens  as  would  have  sufficed 
to  have  found  a  dozen  mothers,  supposing  mine  to  be  a  cook; 
but  I  did  not  see  anyone  who  was  at  all  like  me.  Some- 
times a  cook  replaced  a  basin  she  had  broken,  by  giving 
me  as  much  meat  as  had  cost  her  mistress  five  shillings,  and 
thus  avoided  a  scolding,  for  an  article  which  was  worth 
only  twopence.  At  other  times,  a  cottager  would  give  me 
a  lodging,  and  would  consider  himself  rewarded  with  a 
mug  that  only  cost  me  one  penny.  I  was  more  than  three 
months  employed  carrying  crockery  in  every  direction,  and 
never,  during  the  whole  time,  broke  one  article,  until  one 
day,  as  I  passed  through  Eton,  there  was  a  regular  smash 
of  the  whole  concern." 

"  Indeed,  how  was  that  }  " 

"  I  met  about  a  dozen  of  the  Eton  boys,  and  they  pro- 
posed a  cockshy,  as  they  called  it ;  that  is,  I  was  to  place 
my  articles  on  the  top  of  a  post,  and  they  were  to  throw 
stones  at  them  at  a  certain  distance,  paying  me  a  certain 

F  Y 


33^  Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father 

sum  for  each  throw.  Well,  this  I  thought  a  very  good 
bargain,  so  I  put  up  a  mug  (worth  one  penny)  at  one 
penny  a  throw.  It  was  knocked  down  at  the  second  shot, 
so  it  was  just  as  well  to  put  the  full  price  upon  them  at 
once,  they  were  such  remarkably  good  aimers  at  anything. 
Each  boy  had  a  stick,  upon  which  I  notched  off  their 
throws,  and  how  much  they  would  have  to  pay  when  all 
was  over.  One  article  after  another  was  put  on  the  post 
until  my  basket  was  empty,  and  then  I  wanted  to  settle 
with  them ;  but  as  soon  as  I  talked  about  that,  they  all 
burst  out  into  a  loud  laugh,  and  took  to  their  heels.  I 
chased  them,  but  one  might  as  well  have  chased  eels.  If 
I  got  hold  of  one,  the  others  pulled  me  behind  until  he 
escaped,  and  at  last  they  were  all  off,  and  I  had  nothing 
left." 

"  Not  your  basket  ? " 

"No,  not  even  that;  for  while  I  was  busy  after  some 
that  ran  one  way,  the  others  kicked  my  basket  before  them 
like  a  football,  until  it  was  fairly  out  of  sight.  I  had  only 
eightpence  in  my  pocket,  so  you  perceive,  Japhet,  how  I 
was  going  down  in  the  world." 

"  You  were  indeed,  Tim." 


Chapter  LXVIH 

Timothy  finishes  his  narrative. 

**  Well,  I  walked  away,  cursing  all  the  Eton  boys  and  all 
their  tutors,  who  did  not  teach  them  honesty  as  well  as 
Latin  and  Greek,  and  put  up  at  a  very  humble  sort  of 
abode,  where  they  sold  small  beer,  and  gave  beds  at  two- 
pence per  night,  and  I  may  add,  with  plenty  of  fleas  in  the 
bargain.  There  I  fell  in  with  some  ballad  singers  and 
mumpers,  who  were  making  very  merry,  and  who  asked 
me  what  was  the  matter.  I  told  them  how  I  had  been 
treated,  and  they  laughed  at  me,  but  gave  me  some  supper, 


Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father  339 

so  I  forgave  them.  An  old  man,  who  governed  the  party, 
then  asked  me  whether  I  had  any  money.  I  produced  my 
enormous  capital  of  eightpence.  *  Quite  enough  if  you  are 
clever,'  said  he ;  *  quite  enough — many  a  man  with  half 
that  sum  has  ended  in  rolling  in  his  carriage.  A  man  with 
thousands  has  only  the  advance  of  you  a  few  years.  You 
will  pay  for  your  lodging  and  then  spend  this  sixpence  in 
matches,  and  hawk  them  about  the  town.  If  you  are 
lucky,  it  will  be  a  shilling  by  to-morrow  night.  Besides, 
you  go  down  into  areas,  and  sometimes  enter  a  kitchen, 
when  the  cook  is  above  stairs.  There  are  plenty  of  things 
to  be  picked  up.'  *But  I  am  not  dishonest,'  said  I. 
*  Well,  then,  every  man  to  his  hking  ;  only  if  you  were, 
you  would  ride  in  your  own  coach  the  sooner.'  '  And 
suppose  I  should  lose  all  this,  or  none  would  buy  my 
matches,  what  then  ? '  replied  I,  *  I  shall  starve.'  *  Starve 
— no,  no — no  one  starves  in  this  country ;  all  you  have  to 
do  is  to  get  into  gaol — committed  for  a  month — you  will 
live  better  perhaps  than  you  ever  did  before.  I  have  been 
in  every  gaol  in  England,  and  I  know  the  good  ones,  foi 
even  in  gaols  there  is  a  great  difference.  Now  the  one  in 
this  town  is  one  of  the  best  in  all  England,  and  I  patronises 
it  during  the  winter.'  I  was  much  amused  with  the  dis- 
course of  this  mumper,  who  appeared  to  be  one  of  the 
merriest  old  vagabonds  in  England.  I  took  his  advice, 
bought  six  pennyworth  of  matches,  and  commenced  my 
new  vagrant  speculation. 

"  The  first  day  I  picked  up  threepence,  for  one  quarter 
of  my  stock,  and  returned  to  the  same  place  where  I  had 
slept  the  night  before,  but  the  fraternity  had  quitted  on  an 
expedition.  I  spent  my  twopence  in  bread  and  cheese, 
and  paid  one  penny  for  my  lodging,  and  again  I  started  the 
next  morning,  but  I  was  very  unsuccessful  5  nobody 
appeared  to  want  matches  that  day,  and  after  walking 
from  seven  o'clock  in  the  morning,  to  past  seven  in  the 
evening,  without  selHng  one  farthing's  worth,  I  sat  down 
at  the  porch  of  a  chapel,  quite  tired  and  worn  out.  At 
last,  I  fell  asleep,  and  how  do  you  think  I  was  awoke  ? 


340  Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father 

by  a  strong  sense  of  suffocation,  and  up  I  sprang,  coughing, 
and  nearly  choked,  surrounded  with  smoke.  Some  mis- 
chievous boys  perceiving  that  I  was  fast  asleep,  had  set 
fire  to  my  matches,  as  I  held  them  in  my  hand  between 
my  legs,  and  I  did  not  wake  until  my  fingers  were  severely 
burnt.  There  was  an  end  of  my  speculation  in  matches, 
because  there  was  an  end  of  all  my  capital." 
"  My  poor  Timothy,  I  really  feel  for  you." 
"  Not  at  all,  my  dear  Japhet ;  I  never,  in  all  my  distress, 
was  sentenced  to  execution — my  miseries  were  trifles,  to 
be  laughed  at.  However,  I  felt  very  miserable  at  the 
time,  and  walked  off,  thinking  about  the  propriety  of 
getting  into  gaol  as  soon  as  I  could,  for  the  beggar  had 
strongly  recommended  it.  I  was  at  the  outskirts  of  the 
town,  when  I  perceived  two  men  tussling  with  one 
another,  and  I  walked  towards  them.  *  I  says,'  says  one, 
who  appeared  to  be  a  constable  ;  *  you  must  come  along 
with  I.  Don't  you  see  that  ere  board  ?  All  wagrants 
shall  be  taken  up,  and  dealt  with  according  to  la»  *  Now 
may  the  devil  hold  you  in  his  claws,  you  old  psalm- 
singing  thief — an't  I  a  sailor — and  an't  I  a  wagrant  by 
profession,  and  all  according  to  law  ? '  *  That  won't  do,' 
says  the  other  ;  *  I  commands  you  in  the  king's  name,  to 
let  me  take  you  to  prison,  and  I  commands  you  also, 
young  man,'  says   he — for  I  had  walked  up  to  them — 

*  I   commands  you,    as   a   lawful   subject,   to   assist   me.^ 

*  "What  will  you  give  the  poor  fellow  for  his  trouble  ? ' 
said  the  sailor.  *  It's  his  duty,  as  a  lawful  subject,  and 
I'll  give  him  nothing  ;  but  I'll  put  him  in  prison  if  he 
don't.'  *Then  you  old  Rhinoceros,  I'll  give  him  five 
shillings  if  he'll  help  me,  and  so  now  he  may  take  hia 
choice.'  At  all  events,  thought  I,  this  will  turn  out 
lucky  one  way  or  the  other ;  but  I  will  support  the  man 
who  is  most  generous ;  so  I  went  up  to  the  constable, 
who  was  a  burly  sort  of  a  fellow,  and  tripped  up  his 
heels,  and  down  he  came  on  the  back  of  his  head.  Yoa 
know  my  old  trick,  Japhet  ? " 

**  Yes  5  I  never  knew  you  fail  at  that." 


Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father  341 

"  *  Well,'  the  sailor  says  to  me,  *  I've  a  notion  you've 
damaged  his  upper  works,  so  let  us  start  off,  and  clap  on 
all  sail  for  the  next  town.  I  know  where  to  drop  an 
anchor.  Come  along  with  me,  and  as  long  as  I've  a  shot 
in  the  locker,  d — n  me  if  I  won't  share  it  with  one  who 
has  proved  a  friend  in  need.'  The  constable  did  not 
come  to  his  senses ;  he  was  very  much  stunned,  but  we 
loosened  his  neckcloth,  and  left  him  there,  and  started 
off  as  fast  as  we  could.  My  new  companion,  who  had 
a  wooden  leg,  stopped  by  a  gate,  and  clambered  over  it. 

*  We  must  lose  no  time,'  said  he  ;  *  and  I  may  just  as 
well  have  the  benefit  of  both  legs.'  So  saying,  he  took 
off  his  wooden  stump,  and  let  down  his  real  leg,  which 
was  fixed  up  just  as  you  saw  mine.  I  made  no  comments, 
but  off  we  set,  and  at  a  good  round  pace  gained  a  village 
about  five  miles  distant.  *  Here  we  will  put  up  for  the 
night ;  but  they  will  look  for  us  to-morrow  at  daylight, 
or  a  little  after,  therefore  we  must  be  starting  early.  I 
know  the  law-beggars  well,  they  won't  turn  out  afore 
sunrise.  He  stopped  at  a  paltry  ale-house,  where  we 
were  admitted,  and  soon  were  busy  with  a  much  better 
supper  than  I  had  ever  imagined  they  could  have  pro- 
duced J  but  my  new  friend  ordered  right  and  left,  with 
a  tone  of  authority,  and  everybody  in  the  house  appeared 
at  his  beck  and  command.  After  a  couple  of  glasses  of 
grog,  we  retired  to  our  beds. 

"  The  next  morning  we  started  before  break  of  day, 
on  our  road  to  another  town,  where  my  companion  said 
the  constables  would  never  take  the  trouble  to  come  after 
him.  On  our  way  he  questioned  me  as  to  my  mode  of 
getting  my  livelihood,  and  I  narrated  how  unfortunate  I 
had  been.  *  One  good  turn  deserves  another,'  replied 
the  sailor  -,  *  and  now  I'll  set  you  up  in  trade.  Can  you 
sing .''  Have  you  anything  of  a  voice  ? '  *  I  can't  say 
that  I  have,'  replied  I.  *  I  don't  mean  whether  you  can 
sing  in  tune,  or  have  a  good  voice,  that's  no  consequence  ; 
all   I  want   to   know   is,   have  you   a   good  loud  one  ? ' 

*  Loud  enough,  if  that's  all.'     *  That's  all  that's  requisite ; 


342  Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father 

so  long  as  you  can  make  yourself  heard — you  may  then 
howl  like  a  jackal,  or  bellow  like  a  mad  buffalo,  no 
matter  which — as  many  pay  us  for  to  get  rid  of  us,  as 
out  of  charity  ;  and  so  long  as  the  money  comes,  what's 
the  odds  ?  Why,  I  once  knew  an  old  chap,  who  could 
only  play  one  tune  on  the  clarionet,  and  that  tune  out  of 
all  tune,  who  made  his  fortune  in  six  or  seven  streets, 
for  every  one  gave  him  money,  and  told  him  to  go  away. 
When  he  found  out  that,  he  came  every  morning  as 
regular  as  clock-work.  Now  there  was  one  of  the 
streets  which  was  chiefly  occupied  by  music-sellers  and 
Italian  singers — for  them  foreigners  always  herd  together 
— and  this  tune,  'which  the  old  cow  died  of,'  as  the 
saying  is,  used  to  be  their  horror,  and  out  came  the  half- 
pence to  send  him  away.  There  was  a  sort  of  club  also 
in  that  street,  of  larking  sort  of  young  men,  and  when 
they  perceived  that  the  others  gave  the  old  man  money 
to  get  rid  of  his  squeaking,  they  sent  him  out  money, 
with  orders  to  stay  and  play  to  them,  so  then  the  others 
sent  out  more  for  him  to  go  away,  and  between  the  two, 
the  old  fellow  brought  home  more  money  than  all  the 
cadgers  and  mumpers  in  the  district.  Now  if  you  have 
a  loud  voice,  I  can  provide  you  with  all  the  rest.' — *  Do 
you  gain  your  livelihood  by  that  ? ' — *  To  be  sure  I  do  ; 
and  I  can  tell  you,  that  of  all  the  trades  going,  there  is 
none  equal  to  it.  You  see,  my  hearty,  I  have  been  on 
board  of  a  man-of-war — not  that  I'm  a  sailor,  or  was 
ever  bred  to  the  sea — but  I  was  shipped  as  a  landsman, 
and  did  duty  in  the  waist  and  afterguard.  I  know  little 
or  nothing  of  my  duty  as  a  seaman,  nor  was  it  required 
in  the  station  I  was  in,  so  I  never  learnt,  although  I  was 
four  years  on  board  ;  all  I  learnt  was  the  lingo  and  slang 
— and  that  you  must  contrive  to  learn  from  me.  I  bolted, 
and  made  my  way  good  to  Lunnun,  but  I  should  soon 
have  been  picked  up  and  put  on  board  the  Tender  again, 
if  I  hadn't  got  this  wooden  stump  made,  which  I  now 
carry  in  my  hand.  I  had  plenty  of  songs,  and  I  com- 
menced my  profession,  and  a  real  good  un  it  is,  I  can  tell 


Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father  343 

you.  Why,  do  you  know,  that  a*ter  a  good  victory,  I  have 
sometimes  picked  up  as  much  as  two  pounds  a  day,  for 
weeks  running ;  as  it  is,  I  averages  from  fifteen  shillings 
to  a  pound.  Now,  as  you  helped  me  away  from  that 
land  shark,  who  would  soon  have  found  out  that  I  had 
two  legs,  and  have  put  me  into  limbo  as  an  impostor,  I 
will  teach  you  to  arn  your  livelihood  after  my  fashion. 
You  shall  work  with  me  until  you  are  fit  to  start  alone, 
and  then  there's  plenty  of  room  in  England  for  both  of 
us ;  but  mind,  never  tell  any  one  what  you  pick  up,  or 
every  mumper  in  the  island  will  put  on  a  suit  of  sailor's 
clothes,  and  the  thing  will  be  blown  upon.'  Of  course, 
this  was  too  good  an  offer  to  be  rejected,  and  I  joyfully 
acceded.  At  first,  I  worked  with  him  as  having  only  one 
arm,  the  other  being  tied  down  to  my  side,  and  my  jacket 
sleeve  hanging  loose  and  empty,  and  we  roared  away  right 
and  left,  so  as  to  bring  down  a  shower  of  coppers  wher- 
ever we  went.  In  about  three  weeks  my  friend  thought 
I  was  able  to  start  by  myself,  and  giving  me  half  of  the 
ballads,  and  five  shillings  to  start  with,  I  shook  hands  and 
parted  with,  next  to  you,  the  best  friend  that  I  certainly 
ever  had.  Ever  since  I  have  been  crossing  the  country 
in  every  direction,  with  plenty  of  money  in  my  pocket, 
and  always  with  one  eye  looking  sharp  out  for  you.  My 
beautiful  voice  fortunately  attracted  your  attention,  and 
here  I  am,  and  at  an  end  of  my  history  j  but  if  ever  I 
am  away  from  you,  and  in  distress  again,  depend  upon  it 
I  shall  take  to  my  wooden  leg  and  ballads  for  my 
support." 

Such  were  the  adventures  of  Timothy,  who  was 
metamorphosed  into  a  precise  Quaker.  "I  do  not  like 
the  idea  of  your  taking  up  a  system  of  deceit,  Timothy. 
It  may  so  happen — for  who  knows  what  may  occur  ? — 
that  you  may  again  be  thrown  upon  your  own  resources. 
Now,  would  it  not  be  better  that  you  should  obtain  a 
more  intimate  knowledge  of  the  profession  which  we  are 
now  in,  which  is  liberal,  and  equally  profitable  ?  By 
attention  and  study  you  will  be  able  to  dispense  medicines 


344  Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father 

and  make  up  prescriptions  as  well  as  myself,  and  who 
knows  but  that  some  day  you  may  be  the  owner  of  a 
shop  like  this  ?  " 

**  Verily,  verily,  thy  words  do  savour  of  much  wisdom," 
replied  Tim,  in  a  grave  voice  5  "  and  I  will  even  so  follow 
thy  advice." 

Chapter  LXIX 

I  am  unsettled  by  unexpected  intelligence,  and  again  yearn  after  the  world 
of  fashion. 

I  KNEW  that  he  was  mocking  me  in  this  reply,  but  I  paid 
no  attention  to  that ;  I  was  satisfied  that  he  consented. 
I  now  made  him  assist  me,  and  under  my  directions  he 
made  up  the  prescriptions.  I  explained  to  him  the  nature 
of  every  medicine ;  and  I  made  him  read  many  books  of 
physic  and  surgery.  In  short,  after  two  or  three  months, 
I  could  trust  to  Timothy  as  well  as  if  I  were  in  the  shop 
myself;  and  having  an  errand  boy,  I  had  much  more  leisure, 
and  I  left  him  in  charge  after  dinner.  The  business 
prospered,  and  I  was  laying  up  money.  My  leisure  time, 
I  hardly  need  say,  was  spent  with  Mr  Cophagus  and  his 
family,  and  my  attachment  to  Susannah  Temple  increased 
every  day.  Indeed,  both  Mr  and  Mrs  Cophagus  considered 
that  it  was  to  be  a  match,  and  often  joked  with  me  when 
Susannah  was  not  present.  With  respect  to  Susannah,  I 
could  not  perceive  that  I  was  farther  advanced  in  her 
affections  than  after  I  had  known  her  two  months.  She 
was  always  kind  and  considerate,  evidently  interested  in 
my  welfare,  always  checking  in  me  anything  like  levity — 
frank  and  confiding  in  her  opinions — and  charitable  to  all, 
as  I  thought,  except  to  me.  But  I  made  no  advance  that 
I  could  perceive.  The  fact  was,  that  I  dared  not  speak 
to  her  as  I  might  have  done  to  another  who  was  not  so 
perfect.  And  yet  she  smiled,  as  I  thought,  more  kindly 
when  I  returned  than  at  other  times,  and  never  appeared 
to  be  tired  of  my  company.     If  I  did  sometimes  mention 


Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father  343 

the  marriage  of  another,  or  attentions  paid  which  would, 
in  all  probability,  end  in  marriage,  it  would  create  no 
confusion  or  blushing  on  her  part,  she  would  talk  ovei 
that  subject  as  composedly  as  any  other.  I  was  puzzled, 
and  I  had  been  a  year  and  nine  months  constantly  in  hei 
company,  and  had  never  dared  to  tell  her  that  I  loved 
her.  But  one  day  Mr  Cophagus  brought  up  the  subject 
when  we  were  alone.  He  commenced  by  stating  how 
happy  he  had  been  as  a  married  man,  that  he  had  given 
up  all  hopes  of  a  family,  and  that  he  should  like  to  see 
Susannah  Temple,  his  sister-in-law,  well  married,  that  he 
might  leave  his  property  to  her  children ;  and  then  he  put 
the  very  pertinent  question — "  Japhet — verily — thou  hast 
done  well — good  business — money  coming  in  fast — settle, 
Japhet — marry,  have  children — and  so  on.  Susannah — 
nice  girl — good  wife — pop  question — all  right — sly  puss 
— won't  say  no — um — what  d'ye  say  ? — and  so  on."  I 
replied  that  I  was  very  much  attached  to  Susannah,  but 
that  I  was  afraid  that  the  attachment  was  not  mutual,  and 
therefore  hesitated  to  propose.  Cophagus  then  said  that 
he  would  make  his  wife  sound  his  sister,  and  let  me  know 
the  result. 

This  was  in  the  morning  just  before  I  was  about  to 
walk  over  to  the  shop,  and  I  left  the  house  in  a  state  of 
anxiety  and  suspense.  When  I  arrived  at  the  shop,  I 
found  Tim  there  as  usual ;  but  the  colour  in  his  face  was 
heightened  as  he  said  to  me,  "  Read  this,  Japhet,"  and 
handed  to  me  the  "  Reading  Mercury."  I  read  an 
advertisement  as  follows  : — 

"  If  Japhet  Newland,  who  was  left  at  the  Foundling 
Asylum,  and  was  afterwards  for  some  time  in  London, 
will  call  at  No.  16,  Throgmorton  Court,  Minories,  he 
will  hear  of  something  very  much  to  his  advantage, 
and  will  discover  that  of  which  he  has  been  so  long  in 
search.  Should  this  reach  his  eye,  he  is  requested  to 
write  immediately  to  the  above  address,  with  full  par- 
ticulars of  his  situation.     Should   anyone  who  reads  this 


34^  Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father 

be  able  to  give  any  information  relative  to  the  said  J.  N., 
he  will  be  liberally  rewarded." 

I  sank  down  on  the  chair.  "  Merciful  Heaven !  this 
can  be  no  mistake — *  he  will  discover  the  object  of  his 
search.'  Timothy,  my  dear  Timothy,  I  have  at  last  found 
out  my  father." 

"So  I  should  imagine,  my  dear  Japhet,"  replied 
Timothy,  "  and  I  trust  it  will  not  prove  a  disappoint- 
ment." 

"  They  never  would  be  so  cruel,  Timothy,"  replied  I. 

"  But  still  it  is  evident  that  Mr  Masterton  is  concerned 
in  it,"  observed  Timothy. 

*'  Why  so  ?  "  inquired  I. 

"How  otherwise  should  it  appear  in  the  Reading 
newspaper?  He  must  have  examined  the  post-mark  of 
my  letter." 

To  explain  this,  I  must  remind  the  reader  that  Timothy 
had  promised  to  write  to  Mr  Masterton  when  he  found 
me  ;  and  he  requested  my  permission  shortly  after  we  had 
met  again.  I  consented  to  his  keeping  his  word,  but 
restricted  him  to  saying  any  more  than  "  that  he  had  found 
me,  and  that  I  was  well  and  happy."  There  was  no 
address  in  the  letter  as  a  clue  to  Mr  Masterton  as  to  where 
I  might  be,  and  it  could  only  have  been  from  the  post- 
mark that  he  could  have  formed  any  idea.  Timothy's 
surmise  was  therefore  very  probable  j  but  I  would  not 
believe  that  Mr  Masterton  would  consent  to  the  insertion 
of  that  portion  of  the  advertisement,  if  there  was  no 
foundation  for  it. 

"  What  will  you  do,  Japhet  ?  " 

"Do,"  replied  I,  recovering  from  my  reverie,  for  the 
information  had  again  roused  up  all  my  dormant  feelings 
— "  Do,"  replied  I,  "  why,  I  shall  set  off  for  town  this 
very  morning." 

"  In  that  dress,  Japhet  ?  " 

"I  suppose  I  must,"  replied  I,  "  for  I  have  no  time  to 
procure  another  ;  "  and  all  my  former  ideas  of  fashion  and 


Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father  347 

appearance  were  roused,  and  in  full  activity — my  pride 
recovered  its  ascendency. 

"  Well,"  replied  Timothy,  "  I  hope  you  will  find  your 
father  all  that  you  could  wish." 

"  I'm  sure  of  it,  Tim — I'm  sure  of  it,"  replied  I ;  "  you 
must  run  and  take  a  place  in  the  first  coach." 

"  But  you  are  not  going  without  seeing  Mr  and  Mrs 

Cophagus,  and Miss  Temple,"  continued  Tim,  laying 

an  emphasis  upon  the  latter  name. 

"  Of  course  not,"  replied  I,  colouring  deeply.  "  I  will 
go  at  once.     Give  me  the  newspaper,  Tim." 

I  took  the  newspaper,  and  hastened  to  the  house  of  Mr 
Cophagus.  I  found  them  all  three  sitting  in  the  breakfast 
parlour,  Mr  Cophagus,  as  usual,  reading,  with  his  spec- 
tacles on  his  nose,  and  the  ladies  at  work.  "What  is  the 
matter,  friend  Japhet  ? "  exclaimed  Mr  Cophagus,  as  I  burst 
into  the  room,  my  countenance  lighted  up  with  excitement. 
"  Read  that,  sir  !  "  said  I  to  Mr  Cophagus.  Mr  Cophagus 
read  it.  '*  Hum — bad  news — lose  Japhet — man  of  fashion 
— and  so  on,"  said  Cophagus,  pointing  out  the  paragraph 
to  his  wife,  as  he  handed  over  the  paper. 

In  the  meantime  I  watched  the  countenance  of  Susannah 
— a  slight  emotion,  but  instantly  checked,  was  visible  at 
Mr  Cophagus's  remark.  She  then  remained  quiet  until  her 
sister,  who  had  read  the  paragraph,  handed  the  paper  to 
her.  "  I  give  thee  joy,  Japhet,  at  the  prospect  of  finding 
out  thy  parent,"  said  Mrs  Cophagus.  "  I  trust  thou  wilt 
find  in  him  one  who  is  to  be  esteemed  as  a  man.  When 
departest  thou  ? " 

"  Immediately,"  replied  I. 

"I  cannot  blame  thee — the  ties  of  nature  are  ever 
powerful.  I  trust  that  thou  wilt  write  to  us,  and  that  we 
soon  shall  see  thee  return." 

"  Yes,  yes,"  said  Cophagus,  "  see  father — shake  hands 
— come  back — heh  ! — settle  here — and  so  on." 

"  I  shall  not  be  altogether  my  own  master,  perhaps," 
observed  I.  "If  my  father  desires  that  I  remain  with  him, 
must  not  I  obey  ?     But  I  know  nothing  at  present.     You 


348  Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father 

shall  hear   from   me.      Timothy  can   take   my  place  in 

the "  I  could  not  bear  the  idea  of  the  word  shop,  and 

I  stopped.  Susannah,  for  the  first  time,  looked  me 
earnestly  in  the  face,  but  she  said  nothing.  Mr  and  Mrs 
Cophagus,  who  probably  had  been  talking  over  the  subject 
of  our  conversation,  and  thought  this  a  good  opportunity 
to  allow  me  to  have  an  eclair cissement  with  Susannah,  left 
the  room,  saying  they  would  look  after  my  portmanteau 
and  linen.  "  Susannah,"  said  I,  "  you  do  not  appear  to 
rejoice  with  me." 

"  Japhet  Newland,  I  will  rejoice  at  everything  that  may 
tend  to  thy  happiness,  believe  me ;  but  I  do  not  feel 
assured  but  that  this  trial  may  prove  too  great,  and  that 
thou  mayst  fall  away.  Indeed,  I  perceive  even  now  that 
thou  art  excited  with  new  ideas,  and  visions  of  pride." 

"  If  I  am  wrong,  forgive  me.  Susannah,  you  must 
know  that  the  whole  object  of  my  existence  has  been  to 
find  my  father ;  and  now  that  I  have  every  reason  to 
suppose  that  my  wish  is  obtained,  can  you  be  surprised, 
or  can  you  blame  me,  that  I  long  to  be  pressed  in  his 
arms  ?  " 

"  Nay,  Japhet,  for  that  filial  feeling  I  do  commend  thee  \ 
but  ask  thy  own  heart,  is  that  the  only  feeling  which  now 
exciteth  thee  ?  Dost  thou  not  expect  to  find  thy  father 
one  high  in  rank  and  power  ?  Dost  thou  not  anticipate  to 
join  once  more  the  world  which  thou  hast  quitted,  yet 
still  hast  sighed  for  ?  Dost  thou  not  already  feel  con- 
tempt for  thy  honest  profession : — nay,  more,  dost  thou 
not  only  long  to  cast  off  the  plain  attire,  and  not  only  the 
attire,  but  the  sect  which  in  thy  adversity  thou  didst 
embrace  the  tenets  of?  Ask  thy  own  heart,  and  reply 
if  thou  wilt,  but  I  press  thee  not  so  to  do  ;  for  the  truth 
would  be  painful,  and  a  lie,  thou  knowest,  I  do  utterly 
abhor." 

I  felt  that  Susannah  spoke  the  truth,  and  I  would  not 
deny  it.  I  sat  down  by  her.  "  Susannah,"  said  I,  "it  is 
not  very  easy  to  change  at  once.  I  have  mixed  for  years 
in  the  world,  with  you  I  have  not  yet  lived  two.     I  will 


Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father  349 

not  deny  but  that  the  feelings  you  have  expressed  have 
risen  in  my  heart,  but  I  will  try  to  repress  them  ;  at  least, 
for  your  sake,  Susannah,  I  would  try  to  repress  them,  for 
I  value  your  opinion  more  than  that  of  the  whole  world. 
You  have  the  power  to  do  with  me  as  you  please  : — will 
you  exert  that  power  ?  " 

**  Japhet,"  replied  Susannah,  "  the  faith  which  is  not 
built  upon  a  more  solid  foundation  than  to  win  the  favour 
of  an  erring  being  like  myself  is  but  weak  ;  that  power 
over  thee  which  thou  expectest  will  fix  thee  in  the  right 
path,  may  soon  be  lost,  and  what  is  then  to  direct  thee  ? 
If  no  purer  motives  than  earthly  affection  are  to  be  thy 
stay,  most  surely  thou  wilt  fall.  But  no  more  of  this  j 
thou  hast  a  duty  to  perform,  which  is  to  go  to  thy  earthly 
father,  and  seek  his  blessing.  Nay,  more,  I  would  that 
thou  shouldst  once  more  enter  into  the  world,  there  thou 
mayst  decide.  Shouldst  thou  return  to  us,  thy  friends 
will  rejoice,  and  not  one  of  them  will  be  more  joyful  than 
Susannah  Temple.  Fare  thee  well,  Japhet,  mayst  thou 
prove  superior  to  temptation.  I  will  pray  for  thee — 
earnestly  I  will  pray  for  thee,  Japhet,"  continued  Susannah, 
with  a  quivering  of  her  lips  and  broken  voice,  and  she  left 
the  room. 


Chapter    LXX 

I  return  to  London,  and  meet  with  Mr  Masterton. 

I  WENT  Upstairs,  and  found  that  all  was  ready,  and  I  took 
leave  of  Mr  and  Mrs  Cophagus,  both  of  whom  expressed 
their  hopes  that  I  would  not  leave  them  for  ever.  "  Oh, 
no,"  replied  I,  "  I  should  indeed  be  base,  if  I  did."  I  left 
them,  and  with  Ephraim  following  with  my  portmanteau, 
I  quitted  the  house.  I  had  gone  about  twenty  yards,  when 
I  recollected  that  I  had  left  on  the  table  the  newspaper  with 
the  advertisement  containing  the  direction  whom  to  apply 
to,  and  desiring  Ephraim  to  proceed,  I  returned.     When  I 


35^  Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father 

entered  the  parlour,  Susannah  Temple  was  resting  her  face 
in  her  hands  and  weeping.  The  opening  of  the  door 
made  her  start  up  ;  she  perceived  that  it  was  I,  and  she 
turned  away.  **  I  beg  your  pardon,  I  left  the  newspaper," 
said  I,  stammering.  I  was  about  to  throw  myself  at  her 
feet,  declare  my  sincere  affection,  and  give  up  all  idea  of 
finding  my  father  until  we  were  married,  when  she,  without 
saying  a  word,  passed  quickly  by  me  and  hastened  out  of 
the  room.  "  She  loves  me  then,"  thought  I ;  "  thank 
God  : — I  will  not  go  yet,  I  will  speak  to  her  first."  I  sat 
down,  quite  overpowered  with  contending  feelings.  The 
paper  was  in  my  hand,  the  paragraph  was  again  read,  I 
thought  but  of  my  father,  and  I  left  the  house. 

In  half  an  hour  I  had  shaken  hands  with  Timothy  and 
quitted  the  town  of  Reading.  How  I  arrived  in  London, 
that  is  to  say,  what  passed,  or  what  we  passed,  I  know 
not ;  my  mind  was  in  such  a  state  of  excitement.  I  hardly 
know  how  to  express  the  state  that  I  was  in.  It  was  a 
sort  of  mental  whirling  which  blinded  me — round  and 
round — from  my  father  and  the  expected  meeting,  then 
to  Susannah,  my  departure,  and  her  tears — castle  building 
of  every  description.  After  the  coach  stopped,  there  I 
remained  fixed  on  the  top  of  it,  not  aware  that  we  were  in 
London  until  the  coachman  asked  me  whether  the  spirit  did 
not  move  me  to  get  down.  I  recollected  myself,  and 
calling  a  hackney-coach,  gave  orders  to  be  driven  to  the 
Piazza,  Covent  Garden. 

"  Piazza,  Common  Garden,"  said  the  waterman,  "  why 
that  ban't  an  'otel  for  the  like  o'  you,  master.  They'll 
torment  you  to  death,  them  young  chaps." 

I  had  forgotten  that  I  was  dressed  as  a  Quaker.  "  Tell 
'the  coachman  to  stop  at  the  first  cloth  warehouse  where 
they  have  ready-made  cloaks,"  said  I.  The  man  did  so  ;  I 
went  out  and  purchased  a  roquelaure,  which  enveloped 
my  whole  person.  I  then  stopped  at  a  hatter's,  and 
purchased  a  hat  according  to  the  mode.  "  Now  drive  to 
the  Piazza,"  said  I,  entering  the  coach.  I  know  not  why, 
but  I  was  resolved  to  go  to  that  hotel.    It  was  the  one  I  had 


Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father  351 

stayed  at  when  I  first  arrived  in  London,  and  I  wished  to 
see  it  again.  "When  the  hackney  coach  stopped,  I  asked 
the  waiter  who  came  out  whether  he  had  apartments,  and 
answering  me  in  the  affirmative,  I  followed  him,  and  was 
shown  into  the   same   rooms  I   had  previously  occupied. 

"  These  will  do,"  said  I,  "  now  let  me  have  something 
to  eat,  and  send  for  a  good  tailor."  The  waiter  offered  to 
remove  my  cloak,  but  I  refused,  saying  that  I  was  cold. 
He  left  the  room,  and  I  threw  myself  on  the  sofa,  running 
over  all  the  scenes  which  had  passed  in  that  room  with 
Carbonnell,  Harcourt,  and  others.  My  thoughts  were 
broken  in  upon  by  the  arrival  of  the  tailor.  "  Stop  a 
moment,"  said  I,  "  and  let  him  come  in  when  I  ring."  So 
ashamed  was  I  of  my  Quaker's  dress,  that  I  threw  off  my 
coat  and  waistcoat,  and  put  on  my  cloak  again  before  I  rang 

the  bell  for  the  tailor  to  come  up.     "  Mr ,"  said  I,  "  I 

must  have  a  suit  of  clothes  ready  by  to-morrow  at  ten 
o'clock." 

"Impossible,  sir." 

"  Impossible  !  "  said  I,  "  and  you  pretend  to  be  a  fashion- 
able tailor.     Leave  the  room." 

At  this  peremptory  behaviour  the  tailor  imagined  that  I 
must  be  somebody. 

"  I  will  do  my  possible,  sir,  and  if  I  can  only  get 
home  in  time  to  stop  the  workmen,  I  think  it  may  be 
managed.  Of  course,  you  are  aware  of  the  expense  of 
night  work." 

**  I  am  only  aware  of  this,  that  if  I  give  an  order  I  am 
accustomed  to  have  it  obeyed  ;  I  learnt  that  from  my  poor 
friend.  Major  Carbonnell." 

The  tailor  bowed  low ;  there  was  magic  in  the  name, 
although  the  man  was  dead. 

**  Here  have  I  been  masquerading  in  a  Quaker's  dress, 
to  please  a  puritanical  young  lady,  and  I  am  obliged  to  be 
off  without  any  other  clothes  in  my  portmanteau ;  so  take 
my  measure,  and  I  expect  the  clothes  at  ten  precisely."  So 
saying,  I  threw  off  my  roquelaure,  and  desired  him  to 
proceed.       This   accomplished,    the   tradesman    took   his 


35"^  Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father 

leave.  Shortly  afterwards,  the  door  opened,  and  as  I  lay- 
wrapped  up  in  my  cloak  on  the  sofa,  in  came  the  landlord 
and  two  waiters,  each  bearing  a  dish  of  my  supper.  I 
wished  them  at  the  devil ;  but  I  was  still  more  surprised 
when  the  landlord  made  a  low  bow,  saying,  "Happy  to 
see  you  returned,  Mr  Newland  ;  you've  been  away  some 
time — another  grand  tour,  I  presume." 

"  Yes,  Mr ,  I  have  had  a  few  adventures  since  I 

was  last  here,"  replied  I,  carelessly,  "  but  I  am  not  very 
well.  You  may  leave  the  supper,  and  if  I  feel  inclined,  I 
will  take  a  little  by-and-bye, — no  one  need  wait." 

The  landlord  and  waiter  bowed  and  went  out  of  the  room. 
I  turned  the  key  of  the  door,  put  on  my  Quaker's  coat,  and 
made  a  hearty  supper,  for  I  had  had  nothing  since  break- 
fast. When  I  had  finished,  I  returned  to  the  sofa,  and  I 
could  not  help  analysing  my  own  conduct.  "  Alas," 
thought  I,  "  Susannah,  how  rightly  did  you  judge  me  !  I 
am  not  away  from  you  more  than  eighteen  hours,  and  here 
I  am  ashamed  of  the  dress  which  I  have  so  long  worn,  and 
been  satisfied  with,  in  your  society.  Truly  did  you  say 
that  I  was  full  of  pride,  and  would  joyfully  re-enter  the 
world  of  vanity  and  vexation."  And  I  thought  of  Susannah, 
and  her  tears  after  my  supposed  departure,  and  I  felt  angry 
and  annoyed  at  my  want  of  strength  of  mind  and  my 
worldly  feelings. 

I  retired  early  to  bed,  and  did  not  wake  until  late  the 
next  morning.  When  I  rang  the  bell,  the  chambermaid 
brought  in  my  clothes  from  the  tailor's  :  I  dressed,  and  I 
will  not  deny  that  I  was  pleased  with  the  alteration.  After 
breakfast  I  ordered  a  coach,  and  drove  to  No.  1 6,  Throg- 
morton  Court,  Minories.  The  house  was  dirty  outside, 
and  the  windows  had  not  been  cleaned  apparently  for 
years,  and  it  was  with  some  difficulty  when  I  went  in  that 
I  could  decipher  a  tall,  haggard-looking  man  seated  at  the 
desk. 

"  Your  pleasure,  sir  ? "  said  he. 

**  Am  I  speaking  to  the  principal  ? "  replied  I. 

"  Yes,  sir,  my  name  is  Chatfield." 


Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father  ^^^ 

"  I  come  to  you,  sir,  relative  to  an  advertisement  which 
appeared  in  the  papers.  I  refer  to  this,"  continued  I, 
putting  the  newspaper  down  on  the  desk,  and  pointing  to 
the  advertisement. 

**  Oh,  yes,  very  true :  can  you  give  us  any  information  ? " 

"  Yes,  sir,  I  can,  and  the  most  satisfactory." 

**  Then,  sir,  I  am  sorry  that  you  have  had  so  much 
trouble,  but  you  must  call  at  Lincoln's  Inn  upon  a  lawyer 
of  the  name  of  Masterton :  the  whole  affair  is  now  in  his 
hands." 

"Can  you,  sir,  inform  me  who  is  the  party  that  is 
inquiring  after  this  young  man  ?  " 

"Why,  yes;  it  is  a  General  De  Benyon,  who  has 
lately  returned  from  the  East  Indies." 

"  Good  God  !  is  it  possible  !  "  thought  I ;  "  how  strange 
that  my  own  wild  fancy  should  have  settled  upon  him  as 
my  father ! " 

I  hurried  away ;  threw  myself  into  the  hackney-coach, 
and  desired  the  man  to  drive  to  Lincoln's  Inn.  I  hastened 
up  to  Mr  Masterton's  rooms  :  he  was  fortunately  at  home, 
although  he  stood  at  the  table  with  his  hat  and  his  great 
coat  on,  ready  to  go  out. 

"My  dear  sir,  have  you  forgotten  me?"  said  I,  in  a 
voice  choked  with  emotion,  taking  his  hand  and  squeezing 
it  with  rapture. 

"  By  heavens,  you  are  determined  that  I  shall  not  forget 
you  for  some  minutes,  at  least,"  exclaimed  he,  wringing 
his  hand  with  pain.     "  Who  the  devil  are  you  ? " 

Mr  Masterton  could  not  see  without  his  spectacles,  and 
my  subdued  voice  he  had  not  recognised.  He  pulled  them 
out,  as  I  made  no  reply,  and  fixing  them  across  his  nose — 
"  Hah !  why  yes — it  is  Japhet,  is  it  not  ? " 

"  It  is  indeed,  sir,"  said  I,  again  offering  my  hand,  which 
he  shook  warmly. 

"Not  quite  so  hard,  my  dear  fellow,  this  time,"  said 
the  old  lawyer ;  "  I  acknowledge  your  vigour,  and  that  is 
sufficient.  I  am  very  glad  to  see  you,  Japhet,  I  am  indeed 
— you — you   scamp — you  ungrateful  fellow.     Sit  down — 


354  Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father 

sit  down — first  help  me  off  with  my  great  coat :  I  presume 
the  advertisement  has  brought  you  into  existence  again. 
Well,  it's  all  true ;  and  you  have  at  last  found  your  father, 
or,  rather,  he  has  found  you.  And  what's  more  strange, 
you  hit  upon  the  right  person;  that  is  strange — very 
strange  indeed." 

"  Where  is  he,  sir  ? "  interrupted  I,  "  where  is  he — 
take  me  to  him." 

"No,  rather  be  excused,"  replied  Mr  Masterton,  "for 
he  is  gone  to  Ireland,  so  you  must  wait." 

"  Wait,  sir,  oh  no — I  must  follow  him." 

"  That  will  only  do  harm ;  for  he  is  rather  a  queer  sort 
of  an  old  gentleman,  and  although  he  acknowledges  that 
he  left  you  as  Japhet  and  has  searched  for  you,  yet  he  is  so 
afraid  of  somebody  else's  brat  being  put  upon  him,  that  he 
insists  upon  most  undeniable  proofs.  Now,  we  cannot 
trace  you  from  the  hospital  unless  we  can  find  that  fellow 
Cophagus,  and  we  have  made  every  search  after  him,  and 
no  one  can  tell  where  he  is." 

**  But  I  left  him  but  yesterday  morning,  sir,"  re- 
plied I. 

"  Good — very  good ;  we  must  send  for  him  or  go  to 
him ;  besides,  he  has  the  packet  intrusted  to  the  care  of 
Miss  Maitland,  to  whom  he  was  executor,  which  proves 
the  marriage  of  your  father.  Very  strange — very  strange 
indeed,  that  you  should  have  hit  upon  it  as  you  did — 
almost  supernatural.  However,  all  right  now,  my  dear 
boy,  and  I  congratulate  you.  Your  father  is  a  very  strange 
person:  he  has  lived  like  a  despot  among  slaves  all  his 
life,  and  will  not  be  thwarted,  I  can  tell  you.  If  you  say 
a  word  in  contradiction  he'll  disinherit  you  : — terrible  old 
tiger,  I  must  say.  If  it  had  not  been  for  your  sake,  I 
should  have  done  with  him  long  ago.  He  seems  to  think 
the  world  ought  to  be  at  his  feet.  Depend  upon  it,  Japhet, 
there  is  no  hurry  about  seeing  him ; — and  see  him  you  shall 
not,  until  we  have  every  proof  of  your  identity  ready  to 
produce  to  him.  I  hope  you  have  the  bump  of  veneration 
strong,  Japhet,  and  plenty  of  filial  duty,  or  you  will  be 


Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father  ^^^ 

kicked  out  of  the  house  in  a  week.  D — n  me,  if  he  didn't 
call  me  an  old  thief  of  a  lawyer." 

*' Indeed,  sir,"  replied  I,  laughing;  **I  must  apologise 
to  you  for  my  father's  conduct." 

"  Never  mind,  Japhet ;  I  don't  care  about  a  trifle ;  but 
why  don't  you  ask  after  your  friends  ? " 

"I  have  longed  so  to  do,  sir,"  replied  I.  "Lord 
Windermear " 

*•  Is  quite  well,  and  will  be  most  happy  to  see  you." 

"  Lady  de  Clare,  and  her  daughter " 

**  Lady  de  Clare  has  entered  into  society  again,  and  her 
daughter,  as  you  call  her — your  Fleta,  alias  Cecilia  de 
Clare — is  the  belle  of  the  metropolis.  But  now,  sir,  as  I 
have  answered  all  your  interrogatories,  and  satisfied  you 
upon  the  most  essential  points,  will  you  favour  me  with  a 
narrative  of  your  adventures  (for  adventures  I  am  sure 
you  must  have  had)  since  you  ran  away  from  us  all  in  that 
ungrateful  manner." 

"  Most  certainly,  sir,  I  will ;  and,  as  you  say,  I  have  had 
adventures.     But  it  really  will  be  a  long  story." 

"  Then  we'll  dine  here,  and  pass  the  evening  together — 
^so  that's  settled." 


Chapter  LXXI 

In  which  I  am  let  into  more  particulars  relative  to  my  father's  history. 

I  DISMISSED  the  coach,  while  Mr  Masterton  gave  his  orders 
for  dinner,  and  we  then  turned  the  key  of  the  door  to  avoid 
intrusion,  and  I  commenced.  It  was  nearly  dinner-time 
before  I  had  finished  my  story. 

"  Well,  you  really  appear  to  be  born  for  getting  into 
scrapes,  and  getting  out  of  them  again  in  a  miraculous 
way,"  observed  Mr  Masterton.  "  Your  life  would  make 
a  novel." 

"It  would  indeed,  sir,"  replied  L  "I  only  hope,  like 
all  novels,  it  will  wind  up  well." 


35^  Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father 

"  So  do  1 5  but  dinner's  ready,  Japhet,  and  after  dinner 
we'll  talk  the  matter  over  again,  for  there  are  some  points 
upon  which  I  require  some  explanation." 

We  sat  down  to  dinner,  and  when  we  had  finished,  and 
the  table  had  been  cleared,  we  drew  to  the  fire,  with  our 
bottle  of  wine.  Mr  Masterton  stirred  the  fire,  called  for 
his  slippers,  and  then  crossing  his  legs  over  the  fender, 
resumed  the  subject. 

"Japhet,  I  consider  it  most  fortunate  that  we  have  met, 
previous  to  your  introduction  to  your  father.  You  have  so 
far  to  congratulate  yourself,  that  your  family  is  undeniably 
good,  there  being,  as  you  know,  an  Irish  peerage  in  it ;  of 
which,  however,  you  have  no  chance,  as  the  present  earl 
has  a  numerous  offspring.  You  are  also  fortunate  as  far  as 
money  is  concerned,  as  I  have  every  reason  to  believe  that 
your  father  is  a  very  rich  man,  and,  of  course,  you  are  his 
only  child ;  but  I  must  now  prepare  you  to  meet  with  a 
very  different  person  than  perhaps  the  fond  anticipations  of 
youth  may  have  led  you  to  expect.  Your  father  has  no 
paternal  feelings  that  I  can  discover  ♦,  he  has  wealth,  and 
he  wishes  to  leave  it — he  has  therefore  sought  you  out. 
But  he  is  despotic,  violent,  and  absurd ;  the  least  opposi- 
tion to  his  will  makes  him  furious,  and  I  am  sorry  to  add, 
that  I  am  afraid  that  he  is  very  mean.  He  suffered  severely 
when  young  from  poverty,  and  his  own  father  was  almost 
as  authoritative  and  unforgiving  as  himself.  And  now  I 
will  state  how  it  was  that  you  were  left  at  the  Asylum 
when  an  infant.  Your  grandfather  had  procured  for  your 
father  a  commission  in  the  army,  and  soon  afterwards  pro- 
cured him  a  lieutenancy.  He  ordered  him  to  marry  a  young 
lady  of  large  fortune,  whom  he  had  never  seen,  and  sent 
for  him  for  that  purpose.  I  understand  that  she  was  very 
beautiful,  and  had  your  father  seen  her,  it  is  probable  he 
would  have  made  no  objection,  but  he  very  foolishly  sent 
a  peremptory  refusal,  for  which  he  was  dismissed  for  ever. 
In  a  short  time  afterwards  your  father  fell  in  love  with  a 
young  lady  of  great  personal  attractions,  and  supposed  to 
possess  a  large  fortune.     To  deceive  her,  he  pretended  to 


Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father  ^^y 

be  the  heir  to  the  earldom,  and,  after  a  hasty  courtship,  they 
ran  off,  and  were  married.  When  they  compared  notes, 
which  they  soon  did,  it  was  discovered  that,  on  his  side, 
he  had  nothing  but  the  pay  of  a  subaltern,  and  on  hers, 
that  she  had  not  one  shilling.  Your  father  stormed,  and 
called  his  wife  an  impostor;  she  recriminated,  and  the 
second  morning  after  the  marriage  was  passed  in  tears  on 
her  side,  and  oaths,  curses,  and  revilings  on  his.  The  lady, 
however,  appeared  the  more  sensible  party  of  the  two. 
Their  marriage  was  not  known,  she  had  run  away  on  a 
pretence  to  visit  a  relative,  and  it  was  actually  supposed  in 
the  county  town  where  she  resided,  that  such  was  the  case. 

*  Why  should  we   quarrel   in   this  way  ? '   observed   she. 

*  You,  Edmund,  wished  to  marry  a  fortune,  and  not  me — 
I  may  plead  guilty  to  the  same  duplicity.  We  have  made 
a  mistake ;  but  it  is  not  too  late.     It  is  supposed  that  I  am 

on  a  visit  to ,  and  that  you  are  on  furlough  for  a  few 

days.  Did  you  confide  your  secret  to  any  of  your  brother 
officers  ? '  *  Not  one,'  muttered  your  father.  *  Well,  then, 
let  us  part  as  if  nothing  had  happened,  and  nobody  will  be 
the  wiser.  We  are  equally  interested  in  keeping  the 
secret.  Is  it  agreed  ? ' — Your  father  immediately  con- 
sented.     He    accompanied    your   mother    to   the   house 

at ,  where  she  was  expected,  and  she  framed  a  story 

for  her  delay,  by  having  met  such  a  very  polite  young  man. 
Your  father  returned  to  his  regiment,  and  thus  did  they, 
like  two  privateers,  who  when  they  meet  and  engage,  as 
soon  as  they  find  out  their  mistake,  hoist  their  colours,  and 
sheer  off  by  mutual  consent." 

"  I  can't  say  much  for  my  mother's  affection  or  delicacy," 
observed  I. 

"  The  less  you  say  the  better,  Japhet — however,  that 
is  your  father's  story.  And  now  to  proceed.  It  appears 
that,  about  two  months  afterwards,  your  father  received  a 
letter  from  your  mother,  acquainting  him  that  their  short 
intercourse  had  been  productive  of  certain  results,  and 
requesting  that  he  would  take  the  necessary  steps  to 
provide  for   the  child,  and   avoid  exposure,  or   that   she 


35^  Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father 

would  be  obliged  to  confess  her  marriage.  By  what  means 
they  contrived  to  avoid  exposure  until  the  period  of  her 
confinement,  I  know  not,  but  your  father  states  that  the 
child  was  born  in  a  house  in  London,  and  by  agreement, 
was  instantly  put  into  his  hands  ;  that  he,  with  the  consent 
of  his  wife,  left  you  at  the  door  of  the  Asylum,  with  the 
paper  and  the  bank  note,  from  which  you  received  the 
name  of  Newland.  At  the  time,  he  had  no  idea  of  reclaim- 
ing you  himself,  but  the  mother  had,  for  heartless  as  she 
appears  to  have  been,  yet  a  mother  must  feel  for  her  child. 
Your  father's  regiment  was  then  ordered  out  to  the  East 
Indies,  and  he  was  rapidly  promoted  for  his  gallantry  and 
good  conduct  during  the  war  in  the  Mysore  territory. 
Once  only  has  he  returned  home  on  furlough,  and  then  he 
did  make  inquiries  after  you  ;  not,  it  appears,  with  a  view 
of  finding  you  out  on  his  own  account,  but  from  a  promise 
which  he  made  your  mother." 

"  My  mother  !  what,  have  they  met  since  ? " 
"  Yes ;  your  mother  went  out  to  India  on  speculation, 
passing  off  as  a  single  girl,  and  was  very  well  married 
there,  I  was  going  to  say ;  however,  she  committed  a  very 
splendid  bigamy." 

"  Good  heavens  !  how  totally  destitute  of  principle  1 " 
**  Your  father  asserts  that  your  mother  was  a  free- 
thinker, Japhet ;  her  father  had  made  her  one ;  without 
religion  a  woman  has  no  stay.  Your  father  was  in  the  up 
country  during  the  time  that  your  mother  arrived,  and 
was  married  to  one  of  the  council  of  Calcutta.  Your 
father  says  that  they  met  at  a  ball  at  Government  House. 
She  was  still  a  very  handsome  woman,  and  much  admired. 
When  your  father  recognised  her,  and  was  told  that  she 

was  lately  married  to  the  honourable  Mr ,  he  was 

quite  electrified,  and  would  have  quitted  the  room;  but 
she  had  perceived  him,  and  walking  up  to  him  with  the 
greatest  coolness,  claimed  him  as  an  old  acquaintance  in 
England,  and  afterwards  they  often  met,  but  she  never 
adverted  to  what  had  passed  between  them,  until  the  time 
for  his  departure  to  England  on  leave,  and  she  then  sent 


Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father  359 

for  him,  and  begged  that  he  would  make  some  enquiries 
after  you,  Japhet.  He  did  so,  and  you  know  the  result. 
On  his  return  to  India  he  found  that  your  mother  had  been 
carried  off  by  the  prevailing  pestilence.  At  that  period, 
your  father  was  not  rich,  but  he  was  then  appointed  to 
the  chief  command  in  the  Carnatic,  and  reaped  a  golden 
harvest  in  return  for  his  success  and  bravery.  It  appears, 
as  far  as  I  could  obtain  it  from  him,  that  as  long  as  your 
mother  was  alive,  he  felt  no  interest  about  you,  but  her 
death,  and  the  subsequent  wealth  which  poured  upon  him, 
have  now  induced  him  to  find  out  an  heir,  to  whom  it  may 
be  bequeathed. 

**  Such,  Japhet,  are  the  outlines  of  your  father's  history; 
and  I  must  point  out  that  he  has  no  feelings  of  affection 
for  you  at  present.  The  conduct  of  your  mother  is  ever 
before  him,  and  if  it  were  not  that  he  wishes  an  heir,  I 
should  almost  say  that  his  feelings  are  those  of  dislike. 
You  may  create  an  interest  in  his  heart,  it  is  true:  and 
he  may  be  gratified  by  your  personal  appearance ;  but 
you  will  have  a  very  difficult  task,  as  you  will  have  to 
submit  to  his  caprices  and  fancies,  and  I  am  afraid  that, 
to  a  high  spirit  like  yours,  they  will  be  almost  unbearable." 

"  Really,  sir,  I  begin  to  feel  that  the  fondest  anticipa- 
tions are  seldom  realised,  and  almost  to  wish  that  I  had 
not  been  sought  for  by  my  father.  I  was  happy  and 
contented,  and  now  I  do  not  see  any  chance  of  having  to 
congratulate  myself  on  the  change." 

"  On  one  or  two  points  I  also  wish  to  question  you. 
It  appears  that  you  have  entered  into  the  sect  denominated 
Quakers.  Tell  me  candidly,  do  you  subscribe  heartily 
and  sincerely  to  their  doctrines  ?  And  I  was  going  to  add, 
is  it  your  intention  to  remain  with  them  ?  I  perceive  much 
difficulty  in  all  this." 

"  The  tenets  of  the  sect  I  certainly  do  believe  to  be 
more  in  accordance  with  the  Christian  religion  than  any 
other;  and  I  have  no  hesitation  in  asserting,  from  my 
knowledge  of  those  who  belong  to  that  sect,  that  they, 
generally   speaking,  lead   better   lives.     There  are  some 


360  Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father 

points  connected  with  their  worship,  which,  at  first,  I 
considered  ridiculous  :  the  feeling  has,  however,  worn  off. 
As  to  their  quaint  manner  of  speaking,  that  has  been  grossly 
exaggerated.     Their  dress  is  a  part  of  their  religion." 

"Why  so,  Japhet  ?" 

"  I  can  reply  to  you  in  the  words  of  Susannah  Temple, 
when  I  made  the  same  interrogatory.  *You  think  the 
peculiarity  of  our  dress  is  an  outward  form  which  is  not 
required.  It  was  put  on  to  separate  us  from  others,  and 
as  a  proof  that  we  had  discarded  vanity.  I  am  aware 
that  it  is  not  a  proof  of  our  sincerity ;  but  still,  the 
discarding  of  the  dress  is  a  proof  of  insincerity.  We 
consider,  that  to  admire  the  person  is  vain,  and  our 
creed  is  humility.  It  is  therefore  an  outward  and 
visible  sign,  that  we  would  act  up  to  those  tenets 
which  we  profess.  It  is  not  all  who  wear  the  dress 
who  are  Quakers  in  heart  or  conduct;  but  we  know 
that  when  it  is  put  aside,  the  tenets  of  our  persuasion 
are  at  the  same  time  renounced,  therefore  do  we  consider 
it  essential.  I  do  not  mean  to  say  but  that  the  heart  may 
be  as  pure,  and  the  faith  continue  as  stedfast  without 
such  signs  outwardly,  but  it  is  a  part  of  our  creed,  and 
we  must  not  choose,  but  either  reject  all  or  none.' " 

"  Very  well  argued  by  the  little  Quakeress ;  and  now, 
Japhet,  I  should  like  to  put  another  question  to  you. 
Are  you  very  much  attached  to  this  young  puritan  ? " 

**  I  will  not  deny  but  that  I  am.     I  love  her  sincerely." 

"  Does  your  love  carry  you  so  far,  that  you  would,  for 
her  sake,  continue  a  Quaker,  and  marry  her.? " 

"  I  have  asked  myself  that  question  at  least  a  hundred 
times  during  the  last  twenty-four  hours,  and  I  cannot 
decide.  If  she  would  dress  as  others  do,  and  allow  me 
to  do  the  same,  I  would  marry  her  to-morrow  ;  whether 
I  shall  ever  make  up  my  mind  to  adhere  to  the  persuasion, 
and  live  and  die  a  Quaker  for  her  sake,  is  quite  another 
matter — but  I  am  afraid  not— I  am  too  worldly-minded. 
The  fact  is,  I  am  in  a  very  awkward  position  with  respect 
to  her.     I   have   never  acknowledged   my   affection,   or 


Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father  361 

asked  for  a  return,  but  she  knows  I  love  her,  and  I  know 
that  she  loves  me." 

"  Like  all  vain  boys,  you  flatter  yourself." 

"I  leave  you  to  judge,  sir,"  replied  I,  repeating  to 
him  our  parting  tete-a-tete,  and  how  I  had  returned,  and 
found  her  in  tears. 

"  All  that  certainly  is  very  corroborative  evidence  ;  but 
tell  me,  Japhet,  do  you  think  she  loves  you  well  enough 
to  abandon  all  for  your  sake  .? " 

"  No,  nor  ever  will,  sir,  she  is  too  high  principled,  too 
high-minded.  She  might  suffer  greatly,  but  she  never 
would  swerve  from  what  she  thought  was  right." 

"  She  must  be  a  fine  character,  Japhet,  but  you  will 
be  in  a  dilemma  :  indeed,  it  appears  to  me,  that  your 
troubles  are  now  commencing  instead  of  ending,  and  that 
you  would  have  been  much  happier  where  you  were, 
than  you  will  be  by  being  again  brought  out  into  the 
world.  Your  prospect  is  not  over  cheerful.  You  have 
an  awkward  father  to  deal  with :  you  will  be  under  a 
strong  check,  I've  a  notion,  and  I  am  afraid  you  will  find 
that,  notwithstanding  you  will  be  once  more  received 
into  society,  all  is  vanity  and  vexation  of  spirit." 

"  I  am  afraid  you  are  right,  sir,"  replied  I,  **  but,  at 
all  events,  it  will  be  something  gained,  to  be  acknowledged 
to  the  world  by  a  father  of  good  family,  whatever  else 
I  may  have  to  submit  to.  I  have  been  the  sport  of  fortune 
all  my  life,  and  probably  she  has  not  yet  done  playing 
with  me ;  but  it  is  late,  and  I  will  now  wish  you  good- 
night." 

"  Good-night,  Japhet ;  if  I  have  any  intelHgence  I  will 
let  you  know.  Lady  de  Clare's  address  is  No.  13,  Park 
Street.  You  will,  of  course,  go  there  as  soon  as  you 
can." 

"I  will,  sir,  after  I  have  written  my  letters  to  my 
friends  at  Reading." 


362  Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father 


Chapter  LXXII 

I  am  a  little  jealous,  and,  like  the  immortal  William  *  Bottom,  inclined  to 
enact  more  parts  than  one. — With  a  big  effort  my  hankering  after 
bigamy  is  mastered  by  Mr  Masterton — and  by  my  own  good  sense. 

I  RETURNED  home  to  reflect  upon  what  Mr  Masterton  had 
told  me,  and  I  must  say  that  I  was  not  very  well  pleased 
with  his  various  information.  His  account  of  my  mother, 
although  she  was  no  more,  distressed  me,  and,  from  the 
character  which  he  gave  of  my  father,  I  felt  convinced 
that  my  happiness  would  not  be  at  all  increased  by  my 
having  finally  attained  the  long -desired  object  of  my 
wishes.  Strange  to  say,  I  had  no  sooner  discovered  my 
father,  but  I  wished  that  he  had  never  turned  up ;  and 
when  I  compared  the  peaceful  and  happy  state  of  exist- 
ence which  I  had  lately  enjoyed,  with  the  prospects  of 
what  I  had  in  future  to  submit  to,  I  bitterly  repented 
that  the  advertisement  had  been  seen  by  Timothy ;  still, 
on  one  point,  I  was  peculiarly  anxious,  without  hardly 
daring  to  anatomise  my  feelings  ;  it  was  relative  to  Cecilia 
de  Clare,  and  what  Mr  Masterton  had  mentioned  in  the 
course  of  our  conversation.  The  next  morning  I  wrote 
to  Timothy  and  to  Mr  Cophagus,  giving  them  a  short 
detail  of  what  I  had  been  informed  by  Mr  Masterton, 
and  expressing  a  wish,  which  I  then  really  did  feel,  that 
I  had  never  been  summoned  away  from  them. 

Having  finished  my  letters,  I  set  off  to  Park  Street, 
to  call  upon  Lady  de  Clare  and  Cecilia.  It  was  rather 
early,  but  the  footman  who  opened  the  door  recognised 
me,  and  I  was  admitted  upon  his  own  responsibility.  It 
was  now  more  than  eighteen  months  since  I  had  quitted 
their  house  at  Richmond,  and  I  was  very  anxious  to 
know  what  reception  I  might  have.  I  followed  the 
servant  up  stairs,  and  when  he  opened  the  door  walked 
in,  as  my  name  was  announced. 

*  Or  rather  Nick.— Ed. 


Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father  ^6^ 

Lady  de  Clare  rose  in  haste,  so  did  Cecilia,  and  so  did 
a  third  person,  whom  I  had  not  expected  to  have  met — 
Harcourt.  **Mr  Newland,"  exclaimed  Lady  de  Clare, 
"  this  is  indeed  unexpected."  Cecilia  also  came  forward, 
blushing  to  the  forehead.  Harcourt  held  back,  as  if 
waiting  for  the  advances  to  be  made  on  my  side.  On 
the  whole,  I  never  felt  more  awkwardly,  and  I  believe 
my  feelings  were  reciprocated  by  the  whole  party.  I 
was  evidently  de  trop, 

"  Do  you  know  Mr  Harcourt  ?  "  at  last  said  Lady  de 
Clare. 

"If  it  is  the  Mr  Harcourt  I  once  knew,"  replied  I,  " I 
certainly  do." 

"  Believe  me  it  is  the  same,  Newland,"  said  Harcourt, 
coming  to  me  and  offering  his  hand,  which  I  took  with 
pleasure. 

"  It  is  a  long  while  since  we  met,"  observed  Cecilia,  who 
felt  it  necessary  to  say  something,  but,  at  the  same  time, 
did  not  like  to  enter  upon  my  affairs  before  Harcourt. 

"  It  is.  Miss  de  Clare,"  replied  I,  for  I  was  not  exactly 
pleased  at  my  reception ;  "  but  I  have  been  fortunate 
since  I  had  the  pleasure  of  seeing  you  last." 

Cecilia  and  her  mother  looked  earnestly,  as  much  as 
to  say,  in  what  ? — but  did  not  like  to  ask  the  question,. 

"  There  is  no  one  present  who  is  not  well  acquainted 
with  my  history,"  observed  I,  *'  that  is,  until  the  time 
that  I  left  you  and  Lady  de  Clare,  and  I  have  no  wish 
to  create  mystery.     I  have  at  last  discovered  my  father." 

"I  hope  we  are  to  congratulate  you,  Mr  Newland," 
said  Lady  de  Clare. 

"  As  far  as  respectability  and  family  are  concerned, 
I  certainly  have  no  reason  to  be  ashamed,"  replied  I. 
"  He  is  the  brother  of  an  earl,  and  a  general  in  the  army. 
His  name  I  will  not  mention  until  I  have  seen  him,  and 
I  am  formally  and  openly  acknowledged.  I  have  also 
the  advantage  of  being  an  only  son,  and  if  I  am  not  dis- 
inherited, heir  to  considerable  property,"  continued  I, 
smiling   sarcastically.     "  Perhaps   I   may   now   be   better 


364  Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father 

received  than  I  have  been  as  Japhet  Newland  the 
Foundling :  but,  Lady  de  Clare,  I  am  afraid  that  I  have 
intruded  unseasonably,  and  will  now  take  my  leave. 
Good  morning ; "  and  without  waiting  for  a  reply,  I 
made  a  hasty  retreat,  and  gained  the  door. 

Flushed  with  indignation,  I  had  nearly  gained  the 
bottom  of  the  stairs,  when  I  heard  a  light  footstep  behind 
me,  and  my  arm  was  caught  by  Cecilia  de  Clare.  I  turned 
round,  and  she  looked  me  reproachfully  in  the  face,  as  the 
tear  stood  in  her  eye. 

*' What  have  we  done,  Japhet,  that  you  should  treat  us 
in  this  manner  ? "  said  she,  with  emotion. 

"  Miss  de  Clare,"  replied  I,  **  I  have  no  reproaches  to 
make.  I  perceived  that  my  presence  was  not  welcome, 
and  I  would  no  further  intrude." 

"  Are  you  then  so  proud,  now  that  you  have  found  out 
that  you  are  well  born,  Japhet  ?  " 

"  I  am  much  too  proud  to  intrude  where  I  am  not 
wished  for,  Miss  de  Clare.  As  Japhet  Newland,  I  came 
here  to  see  the  Fleta  of  former  days.  When  I  assume  my 
real  name,  I  shall  always  be  most  happy  of  an  introduction 
to  the  daughter  of  Lady  de  Clare." 

"  Oh !  how  changed,"  exclaimed  she,  fixing  her  large 
blue  eyes  upon  me. 

**  Prosperity  changes  us  all.  Miss  de  Clare.  I  wish 
you  a  very  good  morning ; "  and  I  turned  away,  and 
crossed  the  hall  to  the  door. 

As  I  went  out  I  could  not  help  looking  back,  and 
I  perceived  that  Cecilia's  handkerchief  was  held  to  her 
eyes,  as  she  slowly  mounted  the  stairs.  I  walked  home 
to  the  Piazza  in  no  very  pleasant  humour.  I  was  angry 
and  disgusted  at  the  coolness  of  my  reception.  I  thought 
myself  ill  used,  and  treated  with  ingratitude.  **  So  much 
for  the  world,"  said  I,  as  I  sat  down  in  my  apartment,  and 
spun  my  hat  on  the  table.  "  She  has  been  out  two 
seasons,  and  is  no  longer  the  same  person.  Yet  how 
lovely  she  has  grown !  But  why  this  change — and  why 
was   Harcourt   there  ?    Could   he   have   prejudiced   them 


Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father  ^6^ 

against  me  ?  Very  possibly."  While  these  ideas  were 
running  in  my  mind,  and  I  was  making  comparisons 
between  Cecilia  de  Clare  and  Susannah  Temple — not 
much  in  favour  of  the  former  —  and  looking  forward 
prospectively  to  the  meeting  with  my  father,  the  doubts 
as  to  my  reception  in  society  colouring  everything  with 
the  most  sombre  tints,  the  door  opened,  and  in  walked 
Harcourt,  announced  by  the  waiter. 

*'  A  chair  for  Mr  Harcourt,"  said  I  to  the  waiter,  with 
formality. 

**  Newland,"  said  Harcourt,  **  I  come  for  two  reasons : 
in  the  first  place,  I  am  commissioned  by  the  ladies,  to 
assure  you " 

**  I  beg  your  pardon,  Mr  Harcourt,  for  interrupting  you, 
but  I  require  no  ambassador  from  the  ladies  in  question. 
They  may  make  you  their  confidant  if  they  please,  but 
I  am  not  at  all  inclined  to  do  the  same.  Explanation,  after 
what  I  witnessed  and  felt  this  morning,  is  quite  un- 
necessary. I  surrender  all  claims  upon  either  Lady  de 
Clare  or  her  daughter,  if  I  ever  was  so  fool-hardy  as  to 
imagine  that  I  had  any.  The  first  reason  of  your  visit 
it  is  therefore  useless  to  proceed  with.  May  I  ask  the 
other  reason  which  has  procured  me  this  honour  ? " 

"I  hardly  know,  Mr  Newland,"  replied  Harcourt, 
colouring  deeply,  "whether,  after  what  you  have  now 
said,  I  ought  to  proceed  with  the  second — it  related  to 
myself." 

"I  am  all  attention,  Mr  Harcourt,"  replied  I,  bowing 
politely. 

"  It  was  to  say,  Mr  Newland,  that  I  should  have  taken 
the  earliest  opportunity  after  my  recovery,  had  you  not 
disappeared  so  strangely,  to  have  expressed  my  sorrow 
for  my  conduct  towards  you,  and  to  have  acknowledged 
that  I  had  been  deservedly  punished :  more  perhaps  by 
my  own  feelings  of  remorse,  than  by  the  dangerous  wound 
I  had  received  by  your  hand.  I  take  even  this  opportunity, 
although  not  apparently  a  favourable  one,  of  expressing 
what   I  consider   it  my  duty,  as   a  gentleman  who  has 


^66  Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father 

wronged  another,  to  express.  I  certainly  was  going  to 
add  more,  but  there  is  so  little  chance  of  its  being  well 
received,  that  I  had  better  defer  it  to  some  future 
opportunity.  The  time  may  come,  and  I  certainly  trust 
it  will  come,  when  I  may  be  allowed  to  prove  to  you  that 
I  am  not  deserving  of  the  coolness  with  which  I  am  now 
received.  Mr  Newland,  with  every  wish  for  your 
happiness,  I  will  now  take  my  leave ;  but  I  must  say,  it  is 
with  painful  sentiments,  as  I  feel  that  the  result  of  this 
interview  will  be  the  cause  of  great  distress  to  those  who 
are  bound  to  you,  not  only  by  gratitude,  but  sincere 
regard." 

Harcourt  then  bowed,  and  quitted  the  room.  "  It's  all 
very  well,"  muttered  I,  "  but  I  know  the  world,  and  am 
not  to  be  soothed  down  by  a  few  fine  words.  I  trust 
that  they  will  be  sorry  for  their  conduct,  but  see  me 
again  inside  their  doors  they  will  not,"  and  I  sat  down, 
trying  to  feel  satisfied  with  myself — but  I  was  not  j  I  felt 
that  I  had  acted  harshly,  to  say  no  more.  I  ought  to  have 
listened  to  an  explanation  sent  by  Cecilia  and  her  mother, 
after  her  coming  down  stairs  to  expostulate.  They  were 
under  great  obligations  to  me,  and  by  my  quick  resent- 
ment, I  rendered  the  obligations  more  onerous.  It  was 
unkind  of  me — and  I  wished  that  Harcourt  had  not  left 
the  room.  As  for  his  conduct,  I  tried  to  find  fault  with 
it,  but  could  not.  It  was  gentlemanly  and  feeling.  The 
fact  was,  I  was  in  a  very  bad  humour,  and  could  not,  at 
the  time,  discover  the  reason,  which  was  neither  more  nor 
less  than  that  I  was  more  jealous  of  finding  Harcourt  so 
intimate  at  Lady  de  Clare's,  than  I  was  at  the  unpalatable 
reception  which  I  had  met  with.  The  waiter  came  in, 
and  brought  me  a  note  from  Mr  Mast^rton. 

"  I  have  this  morning  received  a  summons  from  your 
father,  who  returned,  it  appears,  two  days  ago,  and  is  now 
at  the  Adelphi  Hotel.  I  am  sorry  to  say,  that  stepping  out 
of  his  carriage  when  travelling,  he  missed  his  footing,  and 
has  snapped  his  tendon  Achilles.    He  is  laid  up  on  a  couch. 


Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father  2)^'] 

and,  as  you  may  suppose,  his  amiability  is  not  increased  by 
the  accident,  and  the  pain  attending  it.  As  he  has  requested 
me  to  bring  forward  immediate  evidence  as  to  your  identity, 
and  the  presence  of  Mr  Cophagus  is  necessary,  I  propose 
that  we  start  for  Reading  to-morrow  at  nine  o'clock.  I 
have  a  curiosity  to  go  down  there,  and  having  a  leisure  day 
or  two,  it  will  be  a  relaxation.  I  wish  to  see  my  old 
acquaintance  Timothy,  and  your  shop.     Answer  by  bearer. 

**  J.  Masterton." 

I  wrote  a  few  lines,  informing  Mr  Masterton  that  I 
would  be  with  him  at  the  appointed  hour,  and  then  sat 
down  to  my  solitary  meal.  How  different  from  when  I  was 
last  at  this  hotel !  Now  I  knew  nobody.  I  had  to  regain 
my  footing  in  society,  and  that  could  only  be  accomplished 
by  being  acknowledged  by  my  father ;  and,  as  soon  as  that 
was  done,  I  would  call  upon  Lord  Windermear,  who  would 
quickly  effect  what  I  desired.  The  next  morning  I  was 
ready  at  nine  o'clock,  and  set  off  with  post  horses,  with 
Mr  Masterton,  in  his  own  carriage.  I  told  him  what  had 
occurred  the  day  before,  and  how  disgusted  I  was  at  my 
reception. 

"  Upon  my  word,  Japhet,  I  think  you  are  wrong," 
replied  the  old  gentleman  ;  **  and  if  you  had  not  told  me  of 
your  affection  for  Miss  Temple,  to  see  whom,  by-the-bye, 
J  confess  to  be  one  of  the  chief  motives  of  my  going  down 
with  you,  I  should  almost  suppose  that  you  were  blinded 
by  jealousy.  Does  it  not  occur  to  you,  that,  if  Mr 
Harcourt  was  admitted  to  the  ladies  at  such  an  early  hour, 
there  is  preference  shown  him  in  that  quarter  ?  And  now 
I  recollect  that  I  heard  something  about  it.  Harcourt's 
elder  brother  died,  and  he's  come  into  the  property,  and  I 
heard  somebody  say  that  he  would  in  all  probability 
succeed  in  gaining  the  handsomest  girl  in  London,  with  a 
large  fortune — that  it  was  said  to  be  a  match.  Now,  if 
such  be  the  case,  and  you  broke  in  upon  a  quiet  reunion 
between  two  young  people  about  to  be  united,  almost 
without  announcement,  and  so  unexpectedly,  after  a  lapse 


^6S  Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father 

of  so  long  a  time,  surely  you  cannot  be  surprised  at  there 
being  a  degree  of  confusion  and  restraint — more  especially 
after  what  had  passed  between  Harcourt  and  you.  Depend 
upon  it,  that  was  the  cause  of  it.  Had  Lady  de  Clare  and 
her  daughter  been  alone,  your  reception  would  have  been 
very  different ;  indeed,  Cecilia's  following  you  down  stairs, 
proves  that  it  was  not  from  coolness  towards  you  ;  and 
Harcourt  calling  upon  you,  and  the  conversation 
which  took  place,  is  another  proof  that  you  have  been 
mistaken." 

"  I  never  viewed  it  in  that  light,  certainly,  sir,"  observed 
I.  "  I  merely  perceived  that  I  was  considered  intrusive, 
and  finding  in  the  company  one  who  had  treated  me  ill,  and 
had  been  my  antagonist  in  the  field,  I  naturally  supposed 
that  he  had  prejudiced  them  against  me.  I  hope  I  may  be 
wrong  'j  but  I  have  seen  so  much  of  the  world,  young  as  I 
am,  that  I  have  become  very  suspicious." 

"  Then  discard  suspicion  as  fast  as  you  can,  it  will  only 
make  you  unhappy,  and  not  prevent  your  being  deceived. 
If  you  are  suspicious,  you  will  have  the  constant  fear  of 
deception  hanging  over  you,  which  poisons  existence." 

After  these  remarks  I  remained  silent  for  some  time  ;  I 
was  analysing  my  own  feelings,  and  I  felt  that  I  had  acted 
in  a  very  absurd  manner.  The  fact  was,  that  one  of  my 
castle  buildings  had  been,  that  I  was  to  marry  Fleta  as 
soon  as  I  had  found  my  own  father,  and  this  it  was  which 
had  actuated  me,  almost  without  my  knowing  it.  I  felt 
jealous  of  Harcourt,  and  that,  without  being  in  love  with 
Miss  de  Clare,  but  actually  passionately  fond  of  another 
person  j  I  felt  as  if  I  could  have  married  her  without  loving 
her,  and  that  I  could  give  up  Susannah  Temple,  whom  I 
did  love,  rather  than  that  a  being  whom  I  considered  as 
almost  of  my  own  creation,  should  herself  presume  to  fall 
in  love,  or  that  another  should  dare  to  love  her,  until  I  had 
made  up  my  mind  whether  I  should  take  her  myself:  and 
this  after  so  long  an  absence,  and  their  having  given  up  all 
hopes  of  ever  seeing  me  again.  The  reader  may  smile  at 
the  absurdity,  still  more  at  the  selfishness  of  this  feeling ; 


Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father  369 

so  did  I,  when  I  had  reflected  upon  it,  and  I  despised 
myself  for  my  vanity  and  folly. 

"  What  are  you  thinking  of,  Japhet  ? "  observed  Mr 
Masterton,  tired  with  my  long  abstraction. 

"  That  I  have  been  making  a  most  egregious  fool  of 
myself,  sir,"  replied  I,  "  with  respect  to  the  De  Clares." 

"  I  did  not  say  so,  Japhet ;  but,  to  tell  you  the  truth,  I 
thought  something  very  like  it.  Now  tell  me,  were  you 
not  jealous  at  finding  her  in  company  with  Harcourt  ?  " 

"  Exactly  so,  sir." 

"  I'll  tell  Susannah  Temple  when  I  see  her,  that  she  may 
form  some  idea  of  your  constancy,"  replied  Mr  Masterton, 
smiling.  "  Why,  what  a  dog  in  the  manger  you  must  be 
— you  can't  marry  them  both.  Still,  under  the  circum- 
stances, I  can  analyse  the  feeling — it  is  natural,  but  all  that 
is  natural  is  not  always  creditable  to  human  nature.  Let  us 
talk  a  little  about  Susannah,  and  then  all  these  vagaries 
will  be  dispersed.     How  old  is  she  ? " 

Mr  Masterton  plied  me  with  so  many  questions  relative 
to  Susannah,  that  her  image  alone  soon  filled  my  mind,  and 
I  recovered  my  spirits.  "  I  don't  know  what  she  will  say, 
at  my  being  in  this  dress,  sir,"  observed  I.  '*  Had  I  not 
better  change  it  on  my  arrival  ? " 

"By  no  means  ;  I'll  fight  your  battle — I  know  her 
character  pretty  well,  thanks  to  your  raving  about  her." 


Chapter  LXXIII 

Contains  much  learned  argument  upon  broad-brims  and  garments  of  grey — 
I  get  the  best  of  it — The  one  great  wish  of  my  life  is  granted — I  meet 
my  father,  and  a  cold  reception  very  indicative  of  much  after-heat. 

We  arrived  in  good  time  at  Reading,  and,  as  soon  as  we 
alighted  at  the  inn,  we  ordered  dinner,  and  then  walked 
down  to  the  shop,  where  we  found  Timothy  very  busy 
tying  down  and  labelling.  He  was  delighted  to  see  Mr 
Masterton,  and  perceiving  that  I  had  laid  aside  the  Quaker's 

P  2  A 


37©  Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father 

dress,  made  no  scruple  of  indulging  in  his  humour,  making 
a  long  face,  and  ^^^^-ing  and  thou-ing  Mr  Masterton  in  a 
very  absurd  manner.  "We  desired  him  to  go  to  Mr 
Cophagus,  and  beg  that  he  would  allow  me  to  bring  Mr 
Masterton  to  drink  tea,  and  afterwards  to  call  at  the  inn 
and  give  us  the  answer.  We  then  returned  to  our  dinner. 
**  Whether  they  will  ever  make  a  Quaker  of  you, 
Japhet,  I  am  very  doubtful,"  observed  Mr  Masterton,  as 
we  walked  back ;  "  but  as  for  making  one  of  that  fellow 
Timothy,  I'll  defy  them." 

"  He  laughs  at  everything,"  replied  I :  "  and  views 
everything  in  a  ridiculous  light — at  all  events,  they  never 
will  make  him  serious." 

In  the  evening,  we  adjourned  to  the  house  of  Mr 
Cophagus,  having  received  a  message  of  welcome.  I 
entered  the  room  first.  Susannah  came  forward  to 
welcome  me,  and  then  drew  back,  when  she  perceived  the 
alteration  in  my  apparel,  colouring  deeply.  I  passed  her, 
and  took  the  hand  of  Mrs  Cophagus  and  her  husband,  and 
then  introduced  Mr  Masterton. 

"  We  hardly  knew  thee,  Japhet,"  mildly  observed  Mrs 
Cophagus. 

"  I  did  not  think  that  outward  garments  would  disguise 
me  from  my  friends,"  replied  I ;  "  but  so  it  appeareth,  for 
your  sister  hath  not  even  greeted  me  in  welcome." 

"  I  greet  thee  in  all  kindness,  and  all  sincerity,  Japhet 
Newland,"  replied  Susannah,  holding  out  her  hand.  "Yet 
did  I  not  imagine  that,  in  so  short  a  time,  thou  wouldst 
have  dismissed  the  apparel  of  our  persuasion,  neither  do  I 
find  it  seemly." 

"Miss  Temple,"  interposed  Mr  Masterton,  "it  is  to 
oblige  those  who  are  his  sincere  friends,  that  Mr  Newland 
has  laid  aside  his  dress.  I  quarrel  with  no  creed — every 
one  has  a  right  to  choose  for  himself,  and  Mr  Newland 
has  perhaps  not  chosen  badly,  in  embracing  your  tenets. 
Let  him  continue  steadfast  in  them.  But,  fair  young  lady, 
there  is  no  creed  which  is  perfect,  and,  even  in  yours,  we 
find  imperfection.     Our   religion   preaches    humility,  and 


Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father  371 

therefore  we  do  object  to  his  wearing  the  garb  of 
pride." 

**  Of  pride,  sayest  thou  ?  hath  he  not  rather  put  off  the 
garb  of  humility,  and  now  appeareth  in  the  garb  of 
pride?" 

"  Not  so,  young  madam :  when  we  dress  as  all  the 
world  dress,  we  wear  not  the  garb  of  pride;  but  when 
we  put  on  a  dress  different  from  others,  that  distinguishes 
us  from  others,  then  we  show  our  pride,  and  the  worst  of 
pride,  for  it  is  the  hypocritical  pride  which  apes  humility. 
It  is  the  Pharisee  of  the  Scriptures,  who  preaches  in  high 
places,  and  sounds  forth  his  charity  to  the  poor  ;  not  the 
humility  of  the  Publican,  who  says,  *  Lord,  be  merciful  to 
me,  a  sinner.'  Your  apparel  of  pretended  humility  is  the 
garb  of  pride,  and  for  that  reason  have  we  insisted  that  he 
discards  it,  when  with  us.  His  tenets  we  interfere  not 
with.  There  can  be  no  religion  in  dress  ;  and  that  must 
indeed  be  weak  in  itself,  which  requires  dress  for  its 
support." 

Susannah  was  astonished  at  this  new  feature  of  the  case, 
so  aptly  put  by  the  old  lawyer.  Mrs  Cophagus  looked  at 
her  husband,  and  Cophagus  pinched  my  arm,  evidently 
agreeing  with  him.  When  Mr  Masterton  had  finished 
speaking,  Susannah  waited  a  few  seconds,  and  then  replied, 
"  It  becomes  not  one  so  young  and  weak  as  I  am,  to  argue 
with  thee,  who  art  so  much  my  senior.  I  cannot  cavil  at 
opinions  which,  if  not  correct,  at  least  are  founded  on  the 
holy  writings ;  but  I  have  been  otherwise  instructed." 

"Then  let  us  drop  the  argument.  Miss  Susannah,  and 
let  me  tell  you,  that  Japhet  wished  to  resume  his  Quaker's 
dress,  and  I  would  not  permit  him.  If  there  is  any  blame, 
it  is  to  be  laid  to  me ;  and  it's  no  use  being  angry  with  an 
old  man  like  myself." 

"I  have  no  right  to  be  angry  with  anyone,"  replied 
Susannah. 

**  But  you  were  angry  with  me,  Susannah,"  interrupted 
J. 

**  I  cannot  say  that   it  was  anger,  Japhet  Newland :  I 


y]i  Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father 

hardly  know  what  the  feeling  might  have  been ;  but  I  was 
wrong,  and  I  must  request  thy  forgiveness  , "  and  Susannah 
held  out  her  hand. 

"Now  you  must  forgive  me  too,  Miss  Temple,"  said 
old  Masterton,  and  Susannah  laughed  against  her  wishes. 

The  conversation  then  became  general.  Mr  Masterton 
explained  to  Mr  Cophagus  what  he  required  of  him,  and 
Mr  Cophagus  immediately  acceded.  It  was  arranged  that 
he  should  go  to  town  by  the  mail  the  next  day.  Mr 
Masterton  talked  a  great  deal  about  my  father,  and  gave 
his  character  in  its  true  light,  as  he  considered  it  would  be 
advantageous  to  me  so  to  do.  He  then  entered  into  con- 
versation upon  a  variety  of  topics,  and  was  certainly  very 
amusing.  Susannah  laughed  very  heartily  before  the 
evening  was  over,  and  Mr  Masterton  retired  to  the  hotel, 
for  I  had  resolved  to  sleep  in  my  own  bed. 

I  walked  home  with  Mr  Masterton  :  I  then  returned 
to  the  house,  and  found  them  all  in  the  parlour.  Mrs 
Cophagus  was  expressing  her  delight  at  the  amusement 
she  had  received,  when  I  entered  with  a  grave  face.  **  I 
wish  that  I  had  not  left  you,"  said  I  to  Mrs  Cophagus ; 
"  I  am  afraid  to  meet  my  father ;  he  will  exact  the  most 
implicit  obedience.  What  am  I  to  do  ^  Must  not  I  obey 
him  ? " 

"  In  all  things  lawful,"  replied  Susannah,  "  most  cer- 
tainly, Japhet." 

"  In  all  things  lawful,  Susannah  !  now  tell  me,  in  the 
very  case  of  my  apparel :  Mr  Masterton  says,  that  he  never 
will  permit  me  to  wear  the  dress.     What  am  I  to  do  ?  " 

"  Thou  hast  thy  religion  and  thy  Bible  for  thy  guide, 
Japhet." 

**  I  have ;  and  in  the  Bible  I  find  written  on  tablets  of 
stone  by  the  prophet  of  God,  *  Honour  thy  father  and  thy 
mother  ; '  there  is  a  positive  commandment :  but  I  find  no 
commandment  to  wear  this  or  that  dress.  What  think 
you  ? "  continued  I,  appealing  to  them  all. 

**  I  should  bid  thee  honour  thy  father,  Japhet,"  replied 
Mrs  Cophagus,  **  and  you,  Susannah " 


Japhetj  in  Search  of  a  Father  2^73 

"  I  shall  bid  thee  good-night,  Japhet." 

At  this  reply  we  all  laughed,  and  I  perceived  there 
was  a  smile  on  Susannah's  face  as  she  walked  away. 
Mrs  Cophagus  followed  her,  laughing  as  she  went,  and 
Cophagus  and  I  were  alone. 

"Well,  Japhet — see  old  gentleman — kiss — shake  hanHs 
— and  blessing — and  so  on." 

"  Yes,  sir,"  replied  I,  "  but  if  he  treats  me  ill,  I  shall 
probably  come  down  here  again.  I  am  afraid  that 
Susannah  is  not  very  well  pleased  with  me." 

"  Pooh,  nonsense — wife  knows  all — die  for  you — Japhet, 
do  as  you  please — dress  yourself — dress  her — any  dress — 
no  dress  like  Eve — sly  puss — won't  lose  you — all  right — 
and  so  on." 

I  pressed  Mr  Cophagus  to  tell  me  all  he  knew,  and  I 
found  from  him  that  his  wife  had  questioned  Susannah 
soon  after  my  departure,  had  found  her  weeping,  and  that 
she  had  gained  from  her  the  avowal  of  her  ardent  affection 
for  me.  This  was  all  I  wanted,  and  I  wished  him  good- 
night, and  went  to  bed  happy.  I  had  an  interview  with 
Susannah  Temple  before  I  left  the  next  morning,  and, 
although  I  never  mentioned  love,  had  every  reason  to  be 
satisfied.  She  was  kind  and  affectionate  ;  spoke  to  me  in 
her  usual  serious  manner,  warned  me  against  the  world, 
acknowledged  that  I  should  have  great  difficulties  to  sur- 
mount, and  even  made  much  allowance  for  my  peculiar 
situation.  She  dared  not  advise,  but  she  would  pray  for 
me.  There  was  a  greater  show  of  interest  and  confidence 
towards  me  than  I  had  ever  yet  received  from  her  :  when 
I  parted  from  her  I  said,  "Dear  Susannah,  whatever 
change  may  take  place  in  my  fortunes  or  in  my  dress, 
believe  me,  my  heart  shall  not  be  changed,  and  I  shall 
ever  adhere  to  those  principles  which  have  been  instilled 
into  me  since  I  have  been  in  your  company." 

This  was  a  phrase  which  admitted  of  a  double  meaning, 
and  she  replied,  **  I  should  wish  to  see  thee  perfect, 
Japhet ;  but  there  is  no  perfection  now  on  earth ;  be  there- 
fore as  perfect  as  you  can." 


374  Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father 

"  God  bless  you,  Susannah." 

"May  the  blessing  of  the  Lord  be  on  you  always, 
Japhet,"  replied  she. 

I  put  my  arm  round  her  waist,  and  slightly  pressed  her 
to  my  bosom.  She  gently  disengaged  herself,  and  her 
l^rge  eyes  glistened  with  tears  as  she  left  the  room.  In  a 
quarter  of  an  hour  I  was  with  Mr  Masterton  on  the  road 
to  London. 

"  Japhet,"  said  the  old  gentleman,  "  I  will  say  that  you 
have  been  very  wise  in  your  choice,  and  that  your  little 
Quaker  is  a  most  lovely  creature  :  I  am  in  love  with  her 
myself,  and  I  think  that  she  is  far  superior  in  personal 
attractions  to  Cecilia  de  Clare." 

"  Indeed,  sir  !  " 

**  Yes,  indeed  ;  her  face  is  more  classical,  and  her  com- 
plexion is  unrivalled ;  as  far  as  my  present  knowledge  and 
experience  go,  she  is  an  emblem  of  purity." 

"  Her  mind,  sir,  is  as  pure  as  her  person." 

**  I  believe  it ;  she  has  a  strong  mind,  and  will  think  for 
herself." 

"  There,  sir,  is,  I  am  afraid,  the  difficulty ;  she  will  not 
yield  a  point  in  which  she  thinks  she  is  right,  not  even  for 
her  love  for  me." 

"  I  agree  with  you  that  she  will  not,  and  I  admire  her 
for  it ;  but,  Japhet,  she  will  yield  to  conviction,  and, 
depend  upon  it,  she  will  abandon  the  outward  observances 
of  her  persuasion.  Did  you  observe  what  a  spoke  I  put  in 
your  wheel  last  night,  when  I  stated  that  outward  forms 
were  pride.  Leave  that  to  work,  and  I'll  answer  for  the 
consequences  :  she  will  not  long  wear  that  Quaker's  dress. 
How  beautiful  she  would  be  if  she  dressed  like  other 
people  !     I  think  I  see  her  now  entering  a  ball-room." 

**  But  what  occasions  you  to  think  she  will  abandon  her 
persuasion  ?  " 

**  I  do  not  say  that  she  will  abandon  it,  nor  do  I  wish 
her  to  do  it,  nor  do  I  wish  you  to  do  it,  Japhet.  There 
is  much  beauty  and  much  perfection  in  the  Quaker's  creed. 
All  that  requires  to  be  abandoned  are  the  dress  and  the 


Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father  ^y^ 

ceremonies  of  the  meetings,  which  are  both  absurdities. 
Recollect,  that  Miss  Temple  has  been  brought  up  as  a 
Quaker ;  she  has,  from  the  exclusiveness  of  the  sect, 
known  no  other  form  of  worship,  and  never  heard  any 
opposition  to  that  which  has  been  inculcated  ;  but  let  her 
once  or  twice  enter  the  Established  Church,  hear  its 
beautiful  ritual,  and  listen  to  a  sound  preacher.  Let  her 
be  persuaded  to  do  that,  which  cannot  be  asking  her  to 
do  wrong,  and  then  let  her  think  and  act  for  herself,  and 
my  word  for  it,  when  she  draws  the  comparison  between 
what  she  has  then  heard  and  the  nonsense  occasionally 
uttered  in  the  Quakers'  conventicle,  by  those  who  fancy 
themselves  inspired,  she  will  herself  feel  that,  although 
the  tenets  of  her  persuasion  may  be  more  in  accordance 
with  true  Christianity  than  those  of  other  sects,  the  out- 
ward forms  and  observances  are  imperfect.  I  trust  to  her 
own  good  sense." 

**  You  make  me  very  happy  by  saying  so." 

"Well,  that  is  my  opinion  of  her,  and  if  she  proves 
me  to  be  correct,  hang  me  if  I  don't  think  I  shall  adopt 
her." 

**  What  do  you  think  of  Mrs  Cophagus,  sir  ?  " 

"  I  think  she  is  no  more  a  Quaker  in  her  heart  than  I 
am.  She  is  a  lively,  merry,  kind-hearted  creature,  and 
would  have  no  objection  to  appear  in  feathers  and 
diamonds  to-morrow." 

"Well,  sir,  I  can  tell  you  that  Mr  Cophagus  still  sighs 
after  his  blue  cotton-net  pantaloons  and  Hessian  boots." 

"  More  fool  he  !  but,  however,  I  am  glad  of  it,  for  it 
gives  me  an  idea  which  I  shall  work  upon  by-and-bye  ;  at 
present  we  have  this  eventful  meeting  between  you  and 
your  father  to  occupy  us." 

We  arrived  in  town  in  time  for  dinner,  which  Mr 
Masterton  had  ordered  at  his  chambers.  As  the  old 
gentleman  was  rather  tired  with  his  two  days'  travelling, 
I  wished  him  good-night  at  an  early  hour. 

**  Recollect,  Japhet,  we  are  to  be  at  the  Adelphi  hotel 
to-morrow  at  one  o'clock — come  in  time." 


37^  Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father 

I  called  upon  Mr  Masterton  at  the  time  appointed  on 
the  ensuing  day,  and  we  drove  to  the  hotel  in  which  my 
father  had  located  himself.  On  our  arrival,  we  were 
ushered  into  a  room  on  the  ground  floor,  where  we  found 
Mr  Cophagus  and  two  of  the  governors  of  the  Foundling 
Hospital. 

"  Really,  Mr  Masterton,"  said  one  of  the  latter  gentle- 
men, "one  would  think  that  we  were  about  to  have  an 
audience  with  a  sovereign  prince,  and,  instead  of  conferring 
favours,  were  about  to  receive  them.  My  time  is  precious  ; 
I  ought  to  have  been  in  the  city  this  half  hour,  and  here 
is  this  old  nabob  keeping  us  waiting  as  if  we  were 
petitioners." 

Mr  Masterton  laughed  and  said,  "  Let  us  all  go  up 
5tairs,  and  not  wait  to  be  sent  for." 

He  called  one  of  the  waiters,  and  desired  him  to 
announce  them  to  General  De  Benyon.  They  then 
followed  the  waiter,  leaving  me  alone.  I  must  say,  that 
I  was  a  little  agitated ;  I  heard  the  door  open  above,  and 
then  an  angry  growl  like  that  of  a  wild  beast  j  the  door 
closed  again,  and  all  was  quiet.  "  And  this,"  thought  I, 
**  is  the  result  of  all  my  fond  anticipations,  of  my  ardent 
wishes,  of  my  enthusiastic  search.  Instead  of  expressing 
anxiety  to  receive  his  son,  he  litigiously  requires  proofs, 
and  more  proofs,  when  he  has  received  every  satisfactory 
proof,  already.  They  say  his  temper  is  violent  beyond 
control,  and  that  submission  irritates  instead  of  appeasing 
him :  what  then  if  I  resent  ?  I  have  heard  that  people  of 
that  description  are  to  be  better  met  with  their  own 
weapons  : — suppose  I  try  it ; — but  no,  I  have  no  right ; — 
I  will  however  be  firm  and  keep  my  temper  under  every 
circumstance :  I  will  show  him,  at  least,  that  his  son  has 
the  spirit  and  the  feelings  of  a  gentleman." 

As  these  thoughts  passed  in  my  mind  the  door  opened, 
and  Mr  Masterton  requested  me  to  follow  him.  I  obeyed 
with  a  palpitating  heart,  and  when  I  had  gained  the 
landing-place  up  stairs,  Mr  Masterton  took  my  hand  and 
led  me  into  the  presence  of  my  long-sought-for  and  much- 


Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father  377 

dre2.ded  parent.  I  may  as  well  describe  him  and  the  whole 
tableau.  The  room  was  long  and  narrow,  and,  at  the 
farther  end,  was  a  large  sofa,  on  which  was  seated  my 
father  with  his  injured  leg  reposing  on  it,  his  crutches 
propped  against  the  wall.  On  each  side  of  him  were  two 
large  poles  and  stands  each  with  a  magnificent  macaw. 
Next  to  the  macaws  were  two  native  servants,  arrayed  in 
their  muslin  dresses,  with  their  arms  folded.  A  hooka 
was  in  advance  of  the  table  before  the  sofa ;  it  was 
magnificently  wrought  in  silver,  and  the  snake  passed 
under  the  table,  so  that  the  tube  was  within  my  honoured 
father's  reach.  On  one  side  of  the  room  sat  the  two 
governors  of  the  Foundling  Hospital,  on  the  other  was 
seated  Mr  Cophagus  in  his  Quaker's  dress  ;  the  empty 
chair  next  to  him  had  been  occupied  by  Mr  Masterton. 
I  looked  at  my  father :  he  was  a  man  of  great  size, 
apparently  six  feet  three  or  four  inches,  and  stout  in 
proportion  without  being  burthened  with  fat :  he  was 
gaunt,  broad  shouldered,  and  muscular,  and  I  think,  must 
have  weighed  seventeen  or  eighteen  stone.  His  head  was 
in  proportion  to  his  body  and  very  large ;  so  were  all  his 
features  upon  the  same  grand  scale.  His  complexion  was 
of  a  brownish-yellow,  and  his  hair  of  a  snowy  white.  He 
wore  his  whiskers  very  large  and  joined  together  under 
the  throat,  and  these,  which  were  also  white,  from  the 
circle  which  they  formed  round  his  face,  and  contrasting 
with  the  colour  of  his  skin,  gave  his  tout  ensemble  much 
more  the  appearance  of  a  royal  Bengal  tiger  than  a 
gentleman.  General  De  Benyon  saw  Mr  Masterton 
leading  me  forward  to  within  a  pace  or  two  of  the  table 
before  the  general. — "  Allow  me  the  pleasure  of  intro- 
ducing your  son,  Japhet." 

There  was  no  hand  extended  to  welcome  me.  My  father 
fixed  his  proud  grey  eyes  upon  me  for  a  moment,  and  then 
turned  to  the  governors  of  the  hospital. 

**Is  this  the  person,  gentlemen,  whom  you  received  as 
an  infant  and  brought  up  as  Japhet  Newland  ? " 

The  governors  declared  I  was  the  same  person  5  that 


37^  Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father 

they  had  bound  me  to  Mr  Cophagus,  and  had  seen  me 
more  than  once  since  I  quitted  the  Asylum. 

"  Is  this  the  Japhet  Newland  whom  you  received  from 
these  gentlemen  and  brought  up  to  your  business  ? " 

"  Yea,  and  verily — I  do  affirm  the  same — smart  lad — 
good  boy,  and  so  on." 

"  I  will  not  take  a  Quaker's  affirmation — will  you  take 
your  oath,  sir  ?  " 

"  Yes,"  replied  Cophagus,  forgetting  his  Quakership ', 
"  take  oath—  bring  Bible — kiss  book,  and  so  on." 

"  You  then,  as  a  Quaker,  have  no  objection  to  swear  to 
the  identity  of  this  person  ? " 

"Swear,"  cried  Cophagus,  "yes,  swear — swear  now — 
not  Japhet ! — I'm  damned — go  to  hell,  and  so  on." 

The  other  parties  present  could  not  help  laughing  at  this 
explosion  from  Cophagus,  neither  could  I.  Mr  Masterton 
then  asked  the  general  if  he  required  any  more  proofs. 

**  No,"  replied  the  general  discourteously ;  and  speaking 
in  Hindostanee  to  his  attendants,  they  walked  to  the  door 
and  opened  it.  The  hint  was  taken,  Mr  Masterton  saying 
to  the  others  in  an  ironical  tone,  "  After  so  long  a  separa- 
tion, gentlemen,  it  must  be  natural  that  the  general  should 
wish  to  be  left  alone,  that  he  may  give  vent  to  his  paternal 
feelings." 


Chapter  LXXIV 

Father  and  I  grow  warm  in  our  argument — Obliged  to  give  him  a  little 
schooling  to  show  my  affection — Takes  it  at  last  very  kindly,  and  very 
dutifully  owns  himself  a  fool. 

In  the  meantime,  I  was  left  standing  in  the  middle  of  the 
room ;  the  gentlemen  departed,  and  the  two  native  servants 
resumed  their  stations  on  each  side  of  the  sofa.  I  felt 
humiliated  and  indignant,  but  waited  in  silence ;  at  last, 
my  honoured  parent,  who  had  eyed  me  for  some  time, 
commenced. 


Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father  379 

"  If  you  think,  young  man,  to  win  my  favour  by  your 
good  looks,  you  are  very  much  mistaken  :  you  are  too  like 
your  mother,  whose  memory  is  anything  but  agreeable." 

The  blood  mounted  to  my  forehead  at  this  cruel  observa- 
tion ;  I  folded  my  arms  and  looked  my  father  steadfastly  in 
the  face,  but  made  no  reply.  The  choler  of  the  gentleman 
was  raised. 

"  It  appears  that  I  have  found  a  most  dutiful  son." 

I  was  about  to  make  an  angry  answer,  when  I  recollected 
myself,  and  I  courteously  replied,  "  My  dear  general, 
depend  upon  it  that  your  son  will  always  be  ready  to  pay 
duty  to  whom  duty  is  due ;  but  excuse  me,  in  the  agitation 
of  this  meeting  you  have  forgotten  those  little  attentions 
which  courtesy  demands  ;  with  your  permission  I  will  take 
a  chair,  and  then  we  may  converse  more  at  our  ease.  I 
hope  your  leg  is  better." 

I  said  this  with  the  blandest  voice  and  the  most  studied 
politeness,  and  drawing  a  chair  towards  the  table,  I  took 
my  seat;  as  I  expected,  it  put  my  honoured  father  in  a 
tremendous  rage. 

"  If  this  is  a  specimen,  sir,  of  your  duty  and  respect,  sir, 
I  hope  to  see  no  more  of  them.  To  whom  your  duty  is 
due,  sir ! — and  pray  to  whom  is  it  due,  sir,  if  not  to  the 
author  of  your  existence  ? "  cried  the  general,  striking  the 
table  before  him  with  his  enormous  fist,  so  as  to  make  the 
ink  fly  out  of  the  stand  some  inches  high  and  bespatter  the 
papers  near  it. 

**  My  dear  father,  you  are  perfectly  correct :  duty,  as  you 
say,  is  due  to  the  author  of  our  existence.  If  I  recollect 
right,  the  commandment  says,  *  Honour  your  father  and 
your  mother ; '  but  at  the  same  time,  if  I  may  venture  to 
offer  an  observation,  are  there  not  such  things  as  reciprocal 
duties — some  which  are  even  more  paramount  in  a  father 
than  the  mere  begetting  of  a  son  ?  " 

"What  do  you  mean,  sir,  by  these  insolent  remarks?" 
interrupted  my  father. 

**  Excuse  me,  my  dear  father,  I  may  be  wrong,  but  if  so, 
I  will  bow  to  your  superior  judgment ;  but  it  does  appear  to 


380  Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father 

me,  that  the  mere  hanging  me  in  a  basket  at  the  gate  of  the 
Foundling  Hospital,  and  leaving  me  a  bank-note  of  fifty 
pounds  to  educate  and  maintain  me  until  the  age  of  twenty- 
four,  are  not  exactly  all  the  duties  incumbent  upon  a  parent. 
If  you  think  that  they  are,  I  am  afraid  that  the  world,  as 
well  as  myself,  will  be  of  a  different  opinion.  Not  that 
I  intend  to  make  any  complaint,  as  I  feel  assured  that  now 
circumstances  have  put  it  in  your  power,  it  is  your  intention 
to  make  me  amends  for  leaving  me  so  long  in  a  state  of 
destitution,  and  wholly  dependent  upon  my  own  resources." 

"  You  do,  do  you,  sir  ?  well,  now,  I'll  tell  you  my 
resolution,  which  is — there  is  the  door — go  out,  and  never 
let  me  see  your  face  again." 

"  My  dear  father,  as  I  am  convinced  this  is  only  a  little 
pleasantry  on  your  part,  or  perhaps  a  mere  trial  whether 
I  am  possessed  of  the  spirit  and  determination  of  a  De 
Benyon,  I  shall,  of  course,  please  you  by  not  complying 
with  your  humorous  request." 

"  Won't  you,  by  G — d  !  "  roared  my  father ;  then 
turning  to  his  two  native  servants,  he  spoke  to  them  in 
Hindostanee.  They  immediately  walked  to  the  door, 
threw  it  wide  open,  and  then  coming  back  to  me,  were 
about  to  take  me  by  the  arms.  I  certainly  felt  my  blood 
boil,  but  I  recollected  how  necessary  it  was  to  keep  my 
temper.  I  rose  from  my  chair,  and  advancing  to  the  side 
of  the  sofa,  I  said. 

"  My  dear  father,  as  I  perceive  that  you  do  not  require 
your  crutches  at  this  moment,  you  will  not  perhaps  object 
to  my  taking  one.  These  foreign  scoundrels  must  not  be 
permitted  to  insult  you  through  the  person  of  your  only 
son." 

"  Turn  him  out,"  roared  my  father. 

The  natives  advanced,  but  I  whirled  the  crutch  round 
my  head,  and  in  a  moment  they  were  both  prostrate.  As 
soon  as  they  gained  their  feet,  I  attacked  them  again, 
until  they  made  their  escape  out  of  the  room  ;  I  then  shut 
the  door  and  turned  the  key. 

"Thank  you,  my  dear  sir,"  said  I,  returning  the  crutch 


Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father  381 

to  where  it  was  before.  "  Many  thanks  for  thus  permit- 
ting me  to  chastise  the  insolence  of  these  black  scoundrels^ 
whom  I  take  it  for  granted,  you  will  immediately  dis- 
charge ; "  and  I  again  took  my  seat  in  the  chair,  bringing 
it  closer  to  him. 

The  rage  of  the  general  was  now  beyond  all  bounds  ; 
the  white  foam  was  spluttered  out  of  his  mouth,  as  he  in 
vain  endeavoured  to  find  words.  Once  he  actually  rose 
from  the  sofa,  to  take  the  law  in  his  own  hands,  but  the 
effort  seriously  injured  his  leg,  and  he  threw  himself  down 
in  pain  and  disappointment. 

"  My  dear  father,  I  am  afraid  that,  in  your  anxiety  to 
help  me,  you  have  hurt  your  leg  again,"  said  I,  in  a 
soothing  voice. 

"  Sirrah,  sirrah,"  exclaimed  he  at  last ;  "if  you  think 
that  this  will  do,  you  are  very  much  mistaken.  You  don't 
know  me.  You  may  turn  out  a  couple  of  cowardly  blacks, 
but  now  rU  show  you  that  I  am  not  to  be  played  with.  I 
discard  you  for  ever — I  disinherit — I  disacknowledge  you. 
You  may  take  your  choice,  either  to  quit  this  room,  or  be 
put  into  the  hands  of  the  police." 

"  The  police,  my  dear  sir !  What  can  the  police  do  ^ 
I  may  call  in  the  police  for  the  assault  just  committed  by 
your  servants,  and  have  them  up  to  Bow  Street,  but  you 
cannot  charge  me  with  an  assault." 

"  But  I  will,  by  G — d,  sir,  true  or  not  true." 

"  Indeed  you  would  not,  my  dear  father.  A  De  Benyon 
would  never  be  guilty  of  a  lie.  Besides,  if  you  were  to 
call  in  the  police; — I  wish  to  argue  this  matter  coolly, 
because  I  ascribe  your  present  little  burst  of  ill-humour  to 
your  sufferings  from  your  unfortunate  accident.  Allowing 
then,  my  dear  father,  that  you  were  to  charge  me  with  an 
assault,  I  should  immediately  be  under  the  necessity  of 
charging  you  also,  and  then  we  must  both  go  to  Bow 
Street  together.  Were  you  ever  at  Bow  Street,  general  ? " 
The  general  made  no  reply,  and  I  proceeded.  **  Besides, 
my  dear  sir,  only  imagine  how  very  awkward  it  would  be 
when  the  magistrate  put  you  on  your  oath,  and  asked  you 


382  Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father 

to  make  your  charge.  What  would  you  be  obliged  to 
declare  ?  That  you  had  married  when  young,  and  finding 
that  your  wife  had  no  fortune,  had  deserted  her  the  second 
day  after  your  marriage.  That  you,  an  officer  in  the  army, 
and  the  Honourable  Captain  De  Benyon,  had  hung  up  your 
child  at  the  gates  of  the  Foundling  Hospital — that  you  had 
again  met  your  wife,  married  to  another,  and  had  been  an 
accomplice  in  concealing  her  capital  offence  of  bigamy,  and 
had  had  meetings  with  her,  although  she  belonged  to 
another.  I  say  meetings,  for  you  did  meet  her,  to  receive 
her  directions  about  me.  I  am  charitable  and  suspect 
nothing — others  will  not  be  so.  Then,  after  her  death, 
you  come  home,  and  inquire  about  your  son.  His  identity 
is  established, — and  what  then  ?  not  only  you  do  not  take 
him  by  the  hand,  in  common  civility,  I  might  say,  but  you 
first  try  to  turn  him  out  of  the  house,  and  to  give  him  in 
charge  of  the  police :  and  then  you  will  have  to  state  for 
what.  Perhaps  you  will  answer  me  that  question,  for  I 
really  do  not  know." 

By  this  time,  my  honoured  father's  wrath  had,  to  a 
certain  degree,  subsided ;  he  heard  all  I  had  to  say,  and  he 
felt  how  very  ridiculous  would  have  been  his  intended 
proceedings,  and,  as  his  wrath  subsided,  so  did  his  pain 
increase;  he  had  seriously  injured  his  leg,  and  it  was 
swelling  rapidly — the  bandages  tightened  in  consequence, 
and  he  was  suffering  under  the  acutest  pain,  "  Oh,  oh !  " 
groaned  he. 

"  My  dear  father,  can  I  assist  you  .«*" 

**  Ring  the  bell,  sir." 

"  There  is  no  occasion  to  summon  assistance  while  I  am 
here,  my  dear  general.  I  can  attend  you  professionally, 
and  if  you  will  allow  me,  will  soon  relieve  your  pain. 
Your  leg  has  swollen  from  exertion,  and  the  bandages 
must  be  loosened." 

He  made  no  reply,  but  his  features  were  distorted  with 
extreme  pain.  I  went  to  him,  and  proceeded  to  unloose 
the  bandages,  which  gave  him  considerable  relief.  I  then 
replaced  them,  secundum  artem,  and  with  great  tenderness, 


Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father  383 

and  going  to  the  sideboard,  took  the  lotion  which  was 
standing  there  with  the  other  bottles,  and  wetted  the 
bandages.  In  a  few  minutes  he  was  quite  relieved. 
"Perhaps,  sir,"  said  I,  "you  had  better  try  to  sleep  a 
little.  I  will  take  a  book,  and  shall  have  great  pleasure  in 
watching  by  your  side." 

Exhausted  with  pain  and  violence,  the  general  made  no 
reply ;  he  fell  back  on  the  sofa,  and,  in  a  short  time,  he 
snored  most  comfortably.  "I  have  conquered  you," 
thought  I,  as  I  watched  him  as  he  lay  asleep.  "  If  I  have 
not  yet,  I  will,  that  I  am  resolved."  I  walked  gently  to 
the  door,  unlocked  it,  and  opening  it  without  waking  him, 
ordered  some  broth  to  be  brought  up  immediately,  saying 
that  the  general  was  asleep,  and  that  I  would  wait  for  it 
outside.  I  accomplished  this  little  manoeuvre,  and  re-closed 
the  door  without  waking  my  father,  and  then  I  took  my 
seat  in  the  chair,  and  resumed  my  book,  having  placed  the 
broth  on  the  side  of  the  fire-grate  to  keep  it  warm.  In 
about  an  hour  he  awoke,  and  looked  around  him. 

"  Do  you  want  anything,  my  dearest  father  ?  "  inquired 
I. 

The  general  appeared  undecided  as  to  whether  to  re- 
commence hostilities,  but  at  last  he  said,  "I  wish  the 
attendance  of  my  servants,  sir." 

"The  attendance  of  a  servant  can  never  be  equal  to 
that  of  your  own  son,  general,"  replied  I,  going  to  the 
fire,  and  taking  the  basin  of  broth,  which  I  replaced  upon 
the  tray  containing  the  et  ceteras  on  a  napkin.  "  I  expected 
you  would  require  your  broth,  and  I  have  had  it  ready 
for  you." 

"  It  was  what  I  did  require,  sir,  I  must  acknowledge," 
replied  my  father,  and  without  further  remark  he  finished 
the  broth. 

I  removed  the  tray,  and  then  went  for  the  lotion, 
and  again  wetted  the  bandages  on  his  leg.  "  Is  there 
anything  else  I  can  do  for  you,  sir  ^.  "  said  I. 

"  Nothing — I  am  very  comfortable." 

"Then,  sir,"  replied  I,   "I  will  now  take  my  leave. 


384  Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father 

You  have  desired  me  to  quit  your  presence  for  everj 
and  you  attempted  force.  I  resisted  that,  because  I  would 
not  allow  you  to  have  the  painful  remembrance  that  you 
had  injured  one  who  had  strong  claims  upon  you,  and  had 
never  injured  you.  I  resented  it  also,  because  I  wished 
to  prove  to  you  that  I  was  a  De  Benyon,  and  had  spirit  to 
resist  an  insult.  But,  general,  if  you  imagine  that  I  have 
come  here  with  a  determination  of  forcing  myself  upon 
you,  you  are  much  mistaken.  I  am  too  proud,  and  happily 
am  independent  by  my  own  exertions,  so  as  not  to  require 
your  assistance.  Had  you  received  me  kindly,  believe  me, 
you  would  have  found  a  grateful  and  affectionate  heart  to 
have  met  that  kindness.  You  would  have  found  a  son, 
whose  sole  object  through  life  has  been  to  discover  a 
father,  after  whom  he  has  yearned,  who  would  have  been 
delighted  to  have  administered  to  his  wants,  to  have  yielded 
to  his  wishes,  to  have  soothed  him  in  his  pain,  and  to  have 
watched  him  in  his  sickness.  Deserted  as  I  have  been  for 
so  many  years,  I  trust  that  I  have  not  disgraced  you. 
General  De  Benyon;  and  if  ever  I  have  done  wrong, 
it  has  been  from  a  wish  to  discover  you.  I  can  appeal 
to  Lord  "Windermear  for  the  truth  of  that  assertion. 
Allow  me  to  say,  that  it  is  a  very  severe  trial  —  an 
ordeal  which  few  pass  through  with  safety — to  be  thrown 
as  I  have  been  upon  the  world,  with  no  friend,  no  parent 
to  assist  or  to  advise  me,  to  have  to  bear  up  against  the 
contingency  of  being  of  unacknowledged  and  perhaps 
disgraceful  birth.  It  is  harder  still,  when  I  expected 
to  find  my  dearest  wishes  realised,  that  without  any 
other  cause  than  that  of  my  features  resembling 
those  of  my  mother,  I  am  to  be  again  cast  away.  One 
thing.  General  De  Benyon,  I  request,  and  I  trust  it 
will  not  be  denied,  which  is,  that  I  may  assume  the 
name  which  I  am  entitled  to.  I  pledge  you  that  I  never 
will  disgrace  it.  And  now,  sir,  asking  and  expecting  no 
more,  I  take  my  leave,  and  you  may  be  assured,  that 
neither  poverty,  privation,  nor  affliction  of  any  kind,  will 
ever  induce  me  to  again  intrude  into  your  presence. 
General  De  Benyon,  farewell  for  ever." 


Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father  385 

I  made  my  father  a  profound  bow,  and  was  quitting 
the  room. 

"  Stop,  sir,"  said  the  general.  "  Stop  one  moment, 
if  you  please." 

I  obeyed. 

"  Why  did  you  put  me  out  of  temper  ?    Answer  me  that." 

**  Allow  me  to  observe,  sir,  that  I  did  not  put  you  out 
of  temper ;  and  what  is  more,  that  I  never  lost  my  own 
temper  during  the  insult  and  injury  which  I  so  undeservedly 
and  unexpectedly  have  received." 

**  But  that  very  keeping  your  temper  made  me  more 
angry,  sir." 

"  That  is  very  possible ;  but  surely  I  was  not  to  blame. 
The  greatest  proof  of  a  perfect  gentleman  is,  that  he  is 
able  to  command  his  temper,  and  I  wished  you  to  ac- 
knowledge that  I  was  not  without  such  pretensions." 

"That  is  as  much  as  to  say  that  your  father  is  no 
gentleman  ;  and  this,  I  presume,  is  a  specimen  of  your 
filial  duty,"  replied  the  general,  warmly. 

"  Far  from  it,  sir ;  there  are  many  gentlemen  who, 
unfortunately,  cannot  command  their  tempers,  and  are 
more  to  be  pitied  than  blamed  for  it ;  but,  sir,  when  such 
happens  to  be  the  case,  they  invariably  redeem  their  error, 
and  amply  so,  by  expressing  their  sorrow,  and  offering  an 
apology." 

**  That  is  as  much  as  to  say,  that  you  expect  me  to 
apologise  to  you." 

"  Allow  me,  sir,  to  ask  you,  did  you  ever  know  a  De 
Benyon  submit  to  an  insult  ^ " 

"  No,  sir,  I  trust  not." 

"  Then,  sir,  those  whose  feelings  of  pride  will  not  allow 
them  to  submit  to  an  insult  ought  never  to  insult  others. 
If,  in  the  warmth  of  the  moment,  they  have  done  so,  that 
pride  should  immediately  induce  them  to  offer  an  apology, 
not  only  due  to  the  party,  but  to  their  own  characters. 
There  is  no  disgrace  in  making  an  apology  when  we  are  in 
error,  but  there  is  a  great  disgrace  in  withholding  such  an 
act  of  common  justice  and  reparation." 
F  2  B 


386  Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father 

"  I  presume  I  am  to  infer  from  all  this,  that  you  expect 
an  apology  from  me  ?  " 

"  General  De  Benyon,  as  far  as  I  am  concerned,  that 
is  now  of  little  importance ;  we  part,  and  shall  probably 
never  meet  again;  if  you  think  that  it  would  make  you 
feel  more  comfortable,  I  am  willing  to  receive  it." 

**I  must  suppose  by  that  observation,  that  you  fully 
expect  it,  and  otherwise  will  not  stay  ?  " 

"  I  never  had  a  thought  of  staying,  general ;  you  have 
told  me  that  you  have  disinherited  and  discarded  me  for 
ever  ;  no  one  with  the  feelings  of  a  man  would  ever  think 
of  remaining  after  such  a  declaration." 

**  Upon  what  terms,  then,  sir,  am  I  to  understand  that 
you  will  consent  to  remain  with  me,  and  forget  all  that 
has  passed  ? " 

"  My  terms  are  simple,  general ;  you  must  say  that 
you  retract  what  you  have  said,  and  are  very  sorry  for 
having  insulted  me." 

"  And  without  I  do  that,  you  will  never  come  here 
again  ? " 

"  Most  decidedly  not,  sir.  I  shall  always  wish  you 
well,  pray  for  your  happiness,  be  sorry  at  your  death, 
and  attend  your  funeral  as  chief  mourner,  although  you 
disinherit  me.  That  is  my  duty,  in  return  for  my 
having  taken  your  name,  and  your  having  acknowledged 
that  I  am  your  son ;  but  live  with  you,  or  even  see  you 
occasionally,  I  will  not,  after  what  has  passed  this  day, 
without  you  make  me  an  apology." 

"  I  was  not  aware  that  it  was  necessary  for  a  father  to 
apologise  to  his  son." 

**  If  you  wrong  a  stranger,  you  offer  an  apology  ;  how 
much  more  is  it  due  to  a  near  relation  ? " 

"But  a  parent  has  claims  upon  his  own  son,  sir,  for 
which  he  is  bound  to  tender  his  duty." 

**  I  grant  it,  in  the  ordinary  course  of  things  in  this  life ; 
but,  General  De  Benyon,  what  claims  have  you  as  a 
parent  upon  me  ?  A  son  in  most  cases  is  indebted  to 
his  parents   for  their   care  and   attention  in  infancy — his 


Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father  ^Sy 

education — his  religious  instruction — his  choice  of  a  pro- 
fession, and  his  advancement  in  life,  by  their  exertions 
and  interest ;  and  when  they  are  called  away,  he  has  a 
reasonable  expectation  of  their  leaving  him  a  portion  of 
their  substance.  They  have  a  heavy  debt  of  gratitude  to 
pay  for  what  they  have  received,  and  they  are  further 
checked  by  the  hopes  of  what  they  may  hereafter  receive. 
Up  to  this  time,  sir,  I  have  not  received  the  first,  and  this 
day  I  am  told  that  I  need  not  expect  the  last.  Allow  me 
to  ask  you.  General  De  Benyon,  upon  what  grounds  you 
claim  from  me  a  filial  duty  ?  certainly  not  for  benefits 
received,  or  for  benefits  in  expectation  ;  but  I  feel  that 
I  am  intruding,  and  therefore,  sir,  once  more,  with  every 
wish  for  your  happiness,  I  take  my  leave." 

I  went  out,  and  had  half  closed  the  door  after  me,  when 
the  general  cried  out,  "  Stop — don't  go — Japhet — my 
son — I  was  in  a  passion — I  beg  your  pardon — don't  mind 
what  I  said — I'm  a  passionate  old  fool." 

As  he  uttered  this  in  broken  sentences,  I  returned  to 
him.  He  held  out  his  hand.  "  Forgive  me,  boy — forgive 
your  father."  I  knelt  down  and  kissed  his  hand ;  he 
drew  me  towards  him,  and  I  wept  upon  his  bosom. 


Chapter  LXXV 

Father  still  dutifully  submissive  at  home — Abroad,  I  am  splitting  a  straw  in 
arguments  with  Susannah  about  straw  bonnets — ^The  rest  of  the  Chapter 
contains  coquetry,  courting,  and  costumes. 

It  was  some  time  before  we  were  sufficiently  composed 
to  enter  into  conversation,  and  then  I  tried  my  utmost  to 
please  him.  Still,  there  was  naturally  a  restraint  on  both 
sides,  but  I  was  so  particular  and  devoted  in  my  attentions, 
so  careful  of  giving  offence,  that  when  he  complained  of 
weariness,  and  a  wish  to  retire,  he  stipulated  that  I  should 
be  with  him  to  breakfast  on  the  next  morning. 

I  hastened  to  Mr  Masterton,  although  it  was  late,  to 


388  Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father 

communicate  to  him  all  that  had  passed;  he  heard  me 
with  great  interest.  "  Japhet,"  said  he,  "  you  have  done 
well — it  is  the  proudest  day  of  your  life.  You  have  com- 
pletely mastered  him.  The  royal  Bengal  tiger  is  tamed. 
I  wish  you  joy,  my  dear  fellow.  Now  I  trust  that  all 
will  be  well.  But  keep  your  own  counsel,  do  not  let 
this  be  known  at  Reading.  Let  them  still  imagine  that 
your  father  is  as  passionate  as  ever,  which  he  will  be, 
by-the-bye,  with  everybody  else.  You  have  still  to 
follow  up  your  success,  and  leave  me  to  help  you  in 
other  matters." 

I  returned  home  to  the  Piazza,  and,  thankful  to  Heaven 
for  the  events  of  the  day,  I  soon  fell  fast  asleep,  and 
dreamt  of  Susannah  Temple.  The  next  morning  I  was 
early  at  the  Adelphi  hotel ;  my  father  had  not  yet  risen, 
but  the  native  servants  who  passed  in  and  out,  attending 
upon  him,  and  who  took  care  to  give  me  a  wide  berth, 
had  informed  him  that  "  Burra  Saib's "  son  was  come, 
and  he  sent  for  me.  His  leg  was  very  painful  and  un- 
comfortable, and  the  surgeon  had  not  yet  made  his 
appearance.  I  arranged  it  as  before,  and  he  then  dressed, 
and  came  out  to  breakfast.  I  had  said  nothing  before  the 
servants,  but  as  soon  as  he  was  comfortable  on  the  sofa 
I  took  his  hand,  and  kissed  it,  saying,  "  Good  morning, 
my  dear  father ;  I  hope  you  do  not  repent  of  your  kind- 
ness to  me  yesterday." 

"No,  no;  God  bless  you,  boy.  I've  been  thinking  of 
you  all  night." 

"  All's  right,"  thought  I ;  "  and  I  trust  to  be  able  to 
keep  it  so." 

I  shall  pass  over  a  fortnight,  during  which  I  was  in 
constant  attendance  upon  my  father.  At  times  he  would 
fly  out  in  a  most  violent  manner,  but  I  invariably  kept  my 
temper,  and  when  it  was  all  over,  would  laugh  at  him, 
generally  repeating  and  acting  all  which  he  had  said  and 
done  during  his  paroxysm.  I  found  this  rather  dangerous 
ground  at  first,  but  by  degrees  he  became  used  to  it,  and 
it  was  wonderful  how  it  acted  as  a  check  upon  him.     He 


Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father  389 

would  not  at  first  believe  but  that  I  exaggerated,  when 
the  picture  was  held  up  to  his  view  and  he  was  again 
calm.  My  father  was  not  naturally  a  bad-tempered  man, 
but  having  been  living  among  a  servile  race,  and  holding 
high  command  in  the  army,  he  had  gradually  acquired  a 
habit  of  authority  and  an  impatience  of  contradiction 
which  was  unbearable  to  all  around.  Those  who  were 
high-spirited  and  sensitive  shunned  him  •,  the  servile  and 
the  base  continued  with  him  for  their  own  interests,  but 
trembled  at  his  wrath.  I  had  during  this  time  narrated 
to  my  father  the  events  of  my  life,  and,  I  am  happy  to 
say,  had,  by  attention  and  kindness  joined  with  firmness 
and  good  temper,  acquired  a  dominion  over  him.  I  had 
at  his  request  removed  to  the  hotel,  and  lived  with  him 
altogether.  His  leg  was  rapidly  arriving  to  a  state  of 
convalescence,  and  he  now  talked  of  taking  a  house  and 
setting  up  his  establishment  in  London.  I  had  seen  but 
little  of  Mr  Masterton  during  this  time,  as  I  had  remained 
in-doors  in  attendance  upon  the  general.  I  had  written 
once  to  Mr  Cophagus,  stating  how  I  was  occupied,  but 
saying  nothing  about  our  reconciliation.  One  morning, 
Mr  Masterton  called  upon  us,  and  after  a  little  conversa- 
tion with  the  general,  he  told  me  that  he  had  persuaded 
Mr  Cophagus  and  his  wife  to  leave  Reading  and  come  to 
London,  and  that  Susannah  Temple  was  to  come  with 
them. 

**  On  a  visit  ?  "  inquired  I. 

**  No,  not  on  a  visit.  I  have  seen  Cophagus,  and  he  is 
determined  to  cut  the  Quakers,  and  reside  in  London 
altogether." 

"  What !  does  he  intend  to  return  to  the  pomps  and 
vanities  of  this  wicked  world  ? " 

**  Yes,  I  believe  so,  and  his  wife  will  join  him.  She 
has  no  objection  to  decorate  her  pretty  person." 

"I  never  thought  that  she  had — but  Susannah 
Temple " 

"  When  Susannah  is  away  from  her  friends,  when  she 
finds  that  her  sister  and  brother-in-law  no  longer  wear 


390  Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father 

the  dress,  and  when  she  is  constantly  in  your  company, 
to  all  which  please  to  add  the  effect  I  trust  of  my  serious 
admonitions,  she  will  soon  do  as  others  do,  or  she  is  no 
woman.  This  is  all  my  plan,  and  leave  it  to  me — only 
play  your  part  by  seeing  as  much  of  her  as  you  can." 

"  You  need  not  fear  that,"  replied  I. 

"  Does  your  father  know  of  your  attachment  ?  "  inquired 
Mr  Masterton. 

"  No,  I  passed  her  over  without  mentioning  her  name," 
replied  I.  "It  is  too  soon  yet  to  talk  to  him  about  my 
marrying ;  in  fact,  the  proposal  must,  if  possible,  come 
from  him.     Could  not  you  manage  that  ? " 

**  Yes,  I  will  if  I  can ;  but,  as  you  say,  wait  awhile. 
Here  is  their  address — you  must  call  to-morrow,  if  you 
can  ;  and  do  you  think  you  can  dine  with  me  on  Thursday  ?  " 

"  Yes,  if  the  general  continues  improving  ;  if  not,  I  will 
send  you  word." 

The  next  day  I  complained  of  a  headache,  and  said,  that 
I  would  walk  out  until  dinner-time.  I  hastened  to  the 
address  given  me  by  Mr  Masterton,  and  found  that  Mr 
Cophagus  and  his  wife  were  out,  but  Susannah  remained 
at  home.  After  our  first  questions,  I  inquired  of  her  how 
she  liked  London. 

"  I  am  almost  afraid  to  say,  Japhet,  at  least  to  you  j  you 
would  only  laugh  at  me." 

"  Not  so,  Susannah  j  I  never  laugh  when  I  know  people 
are  sincere." 

**  It  appears  to  me,  then,  to  be  a  vanity  fair." 

"  That  there  is  more  vanity  in  London  than  in  any  other 
city,  I  grant,"  replied  I ;  "  but  recollect,  that  there  are 
more  people  and  more  wealth.  I  do  not  think  that  there 
is  more  in  proportion  than  in  other  towns  in  England,  and 
if  there  is  more  vanity,  Susannah,  recollect  also  that  there 
is  more  industry,  more  talent,  and  I  should  hope  a  greater 
proportion  of  good  and  honest  people  among  its  multitudes ; 
there  is  also,  unfortunately,  more  misery  and  more  crime." 

"I  believe  you  are  right,  Japhet.  Are  you  aware  that 
Mr  Cophagus  has  put  off  his  plain  attire  ? " 


Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father  391 

**  If  it  grieves  you,  Susannah,  it  grieves  me  also ;  but  I 
presume  he  finds  it  necessary  not  to  be  so  remarkable." 

**  For  him,  I  could  find  some  excuse  -,  but  what  will  you 
say,  Japhet,  when  I  tell  you  that  my  own  sister,  born  and 
bred  up  to  our  tenets,  hath  also  deviated  much  from  the 
dress  of  the  females  of  our  sect  ?" 

**  In  what  hath  she  made  an  alteration  ?" 

*'  She  has  a  bonnet  of  plaited  straw  with  ribbons.*' 

"  Of  what  colour  are  the  ribbons  ?  " 

"  Nay,  of  the  same  as  her  dress — of  grey." 

"  Your  bonnet,  Susannah,  is  of  grey  silk ;  I  do  not  see 
that  there  is  vanity  in  descending  to  straw,  which  is  a 
more  homely  commodity.    But  what  reason  has  she  given  ? " 

"  That  her  husband  wills  it,  as  he  does  not  like  to  walk 
out  with  her  in  her  Quaker's  dress." 

**  Is  it  not  her  duty  to  obey  her  husband,  even  as  I  obey 
my  father,  Susannah  ? — but  I  am  not  ashamed  to  walk  out 
with  you  in  your  dress  ;  so  if  you  have  no  objection,  let 
me  show  you  a  part  of  this  great  city." 

Susannah  consented ;  we  had  often  walked  together  in 
the  town  of  Reading :  she  was  evidently  pleased  at  what  I 
said.  I  soon  escorted  her  to  Oxford  Street,  from  thence 
down  Bond  Street,  and  through  all  the  most  frequented 
parts  of  the  metropolis.  The  dress  naturally  drew  upon 
her  the  casual  glance  of  the  passengers,  but  her  extreme 
beauty  turned  the  glance  to  an  ardent  gaze,  and  long 
before  we  had  finished  our  intended  walk,  Susannah 
requested  that  I  would  go  home.  She  was  not  only 
annoyed  but  almost  alarmed  at  the  constant  and  reiterated 
scrutiny  which  she  underwent,  ascribing  it  to  her  dress,  and 
not  to  her  lovely  person.  As  soon  as  we  returned  I  sat 
down  with  her. 

"  So  I  understand  that  Mr  Cophagus  intends  to  reside 
altogether  in  London." 

**  I  have  not  heard  so  ;  I  understood  that  it  was  business 
which  called  him  hither  for  a  few  weeks.  I  trust  not,  for 
I  shall  be  unhappy  here." 

"  May  I  ask  why  ? " 


392  Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father 

**  The  people  are  rude — it  is  not  agreeable  to  walk  out." 

"  Recollect,  my  dear  Susannah,  that  those  of  your  sect 
are  not  so  plentiful  in  London  as  elsewhere,  and  if  you 
wear  a  dress  so  different  from  other  people,  you  must 
expect  that  curiosity  will  be  excited.  You  cannot  blame 
them — it  is  you  who  make  yourself  conspicuous,  almost 
saying  to  the  people  by  your  garment,  *  Come,  and  look  at 
me.'  I  have  been  reflecting  upon  what  Mr  Masterton  said 
to  you  at  Reading,  and  I  do  not  know  whether  he  was  not 
right  in  calling  it  a  garb  of  pride  instead  of  a  garb  of 
humility." 

"  If  I  thought  so,  Japhet,  even  I  would  throw  it  off," 
replied  Susannah. 

"  It  certainly  is  not  pleasant  that  every  one  should  think 
that  you  walk  out  on  purpose  to  be  stared  at,  yet  such  is 
the  ill-natured  construction  of  the  world,  and  they  will 
never  believe  otherwise.  It  is  possible,  I  should  think,  to 
dress  with  equal  simplicity  and  neatness,  to  avoid  gay 
colours,  and  yet  to  dress  so  as  not  to  excite  observation." 

'*  I  hardly  know  what  to  say,  but  that  you  all  appear 
against  me,  and  that  sometimes  I  feel  that  I  am  too  pre- 
sumptuous in  thus  judging  for  myself." 

"  I  am  not  against  you,  Susannah ;  I  know  you  will  do 
what  you  think  is  right,  and  I  shall  respect  you  for  that, 
even  if  I  disagree  with  you  ;  but  I  must  say,  that  if  my 
wife  were  to  dress  in  such  a  way  as  to  attract  the  public 
gaze,  I  should  feel  too  jealous  to  approve  of  it.  I  do  not, 
therefore,  blame  Mr  Cophagus  for  inducing  his  pretty  wife 
to  make  some  alteration  in  her  attire,  neither  do  I  blame 
but  I  commend  her  for  obeying  the  wishes  of  her  husband. 
Her  beauty  is  his,  and  not  common  property." 

Susannah  did  not  reply ;  she  appeared  very  thoughtful. 

"  You  disagree  with  me,  Susannah,"  said  I,  after  a  pause  ; 
**  I  am  sorry  for  it." 

"  I  cannot  say  that  I  do,  Japhet  j  I  have  learned  a  lesson 
this  day,  and,  in  future,  I  must  think  more  humbly  of 
myself,  and  be  more  ruled  by  the  opinions  and  judgment 
of  others." 


Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father  393 

Mr  and  Mrs  Cophagus  then  came  in.  Cophagus  had 
resumed  his  medical  coat  and  waistcoat,  but  not  his 
pantaloons  or  Hessians  :  his  wife,  who  had  a  very  good  taste 
in  dress,  would  not  allow  him.  She  was  in  her  grey  silk 
gown,  but  wore  a  large  handsome  shawl,  which  covered  all 
but  the  skirts  ;  on  her  head  she  had  a  Leghorn  bonnet,  and 
certainly  looked  very  pretty.  As  usual,  she  was  all  good- 
humour  and  smiles.  I  told  them  that  we  had  been  walk- 
ing out,  and  that  Susannah  had  been  much  annoyed  by  the 
staring  of  the  people. 

"  Always  so,"  said  Cophagus,  "  never  mind — girls  like 
it — feel  pleased — and  so  on." 

"  You  wrong  me  much,  brother  Cophagus,"  replied 
Susannah,  **  it  pained  me  exceedingly." 

"  All  very  well  to  say  so — know  better — sly  puss — 
will  wear  dress — people  say,  pretty  Quaker — and  so  on." 

Susannah  hastily  left  the  room  after  this  attack,  and  I 
told  them  what  had  passed. 

"  Mrs  Cophagus,"  said  I,  *'  order  a  bonnet  and  shawl 
like  yours  for  her,  without  telling  her,  and  perhaps  you 
will  persuade  her  to  put  them  on." 

Mrs  Cophagus  thought  the  idea  excellent,  and  promised 
to  procure  them.  Susannah  not  making  her  re-appearance, 
I  took  leave  and  arrived  at  the  hotel  in  good  time  for 
dinner. 

**  Japhet,"  said  the  general  to  me  as  we  were  at  table, 
"  you  have  mentioned  Lord  Windermear  very  often,  have 
you  called  upon  him  lately  ? " 

"  No,  sir,  it  is  now  two  years  and  more  since  I  have 
seen  him.  When  I  was  summoned  to  town  to  meet  you, 
I  was  too  much  agitated  to  think  of  anything  else,  and 
since  that  I  have  had  too  much  pleasure  in  your  company." 

"  Say,  rather,  my  good  boy,  that  you  have  nursed  me  so 
carefully  that  you  have  neglected  your  friends  and  your 
health.  Take  my  carriage  to-morrow,  and  call  upon  him,  and 
after  that,  you  had  better  drive  about  a  little,  for  you  have 
been  looking  pale  these  last  few  days.  I  hope  to  get  out 
myself  in  a  short  time,  and  then  we  will  have  plenty  of 
amusement  together  in  setting  up  our  establishment." 


394  Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father 


Chapter  LXXVI 

I  renew  old  ties  of  friendship,  and  seek  new  ones  of  love — Obliged  to  take 
my  father  to  task  once  more — He  receives  his  lesson  with  proper 
obedience. 

I  TOOK  the  carriage  the  next  day,  and  drove  to  Lord 
Windermear's.  He  was  at  home,  and  I  gave  my  name  to 
the  servant  as  Mr  De  Benyon.  It  was  the  first  time  that 
I  had  made  use  of  my  own  name.  His  lordship  was  alone 
when  I  entered.  He  bowed,  as  if  not  recognising  me, 
and  waved  his  hand  to  a  chair. 

**  My  lord,  I  have  given  my  true  name,  and  you  treat 
me  as  a  perfect  stranger.  I  will  mention  my  former  name, 
and  I  trust  you  will  honour  me  with  a  recognition.  I  was 
Japhet  Newland." 

"  My  dear  Mr  Newland,  you  must  accept  my  apology ; 
but  it  is  so  long  since  we  met,  and  I  did  not  expect  to  see 
you  again." 

**  I  thought,  my  lord,  that  Mr  Masterton  had  informed 
you  of  what  had  taken  place." 

"  No ;  I  have  just  come  from  a  visit  to  my  sisters  in 
Westmoreland,  and  have  received  no  letters  from  him." 

"  I  have,  my  lord,  at  last  succeeded  in  finding  out  the 
object  of  my  mad  search,  as  you  were  truly  pleased  to  call 
it,  in  the  Honourable  General  De  Benyon,  lately  arrived 
from  the  East  Indies." 

"  Where  his  services  are  well  known,"  added  his  lord- 
ship. "  Mr  De  Benyon,  I  congratulate  you  with  all  my 
heart.  When  you  refused  my  offers  of  assistance,  and  left 
us  all  in  that  mad  way,  I  certainly  despaired  of  ever  seeing 
you  again.  I  am  glad  that  you  re-appear  under  such 
fortunate  auspices.     Has  your  father  any  family  ? " 

"None,  my  lord,  but  myself;  and  my  mother  died  in 
the  East  Indies." 

"Then  I  presume,  from  what  I  know  at  the  Board  of 
Control,    that   you   may   now   safely  be   introduced  as  a 


Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father  395 

young  gentleman  of  large  fortune  -,  allow  me  at  least  to 
assist  your  father  in  placing  you  in  your  proper  sphere  in 
society.     Where  is  your  father  ? " 

**  At  present,  my  lord,  he  is  staying  at  the  Adelphi 
hotel,  confined  to  his  room  by  an  accident,  but  I  trust 
that  in  a  few  days  he  will  be  able  to  come  out." 

"  Will  you  offer  my  congratulations  to  him,  and  tell 
him,  that  if  he  will  allow  me,  I  will  have  the  honour  of 
paying  my  respects  to  him.  Will  you  dine  with  me  on 
Monday  next  ? " 

I  returned  my  thanks,  accepted  the  invitation,  and  took 
my  leave,  his  lordship  saying  as  he  shook  hands  with  me, 
*'  You  don't  know  how  happy  this  intelligence  has  made 
me.     I  trust  that  your  father  and  I  shall  be  good  friends." 

When  I  returned  to  the  carriage,  as  my  father  had 
desired  me  to  take  an  airing,  I  thought  I  might  as  well 
have  a  companion,  so  I  directed  them  to  drive  to  Mr 
Cophagus*s.  The  servant  knocked,  and  I  went  in  as  soon 
as  the  door  was  opened.  Susannah  and  Mrs  Cophagus 
were  sitting  in  the  room. 

**  Susannah,"  said  I,  **  I  know  you  do  not  like  to  walk 
out,  so  I  thought,  perhaps,  you  would  have  no  objection 
to  take  an  airing  in  the  carriage ;  my  father  has  lent  it  to 
me.     Will  you  come  ? — it  will  do  you  good." 

"It  is  very  kind  of  you,  Japhet,  to  think  of  me ; 
but " 

"  But  what  ? "  replied  Mrs  Cophagus.  "  Surely  thou 
wilt  not  refuse,  Susannah.  It  would  savour  much  of 
ingratitude  on  thy  part." 

**  I  will  not  then  be  ungrateful,"  replied  Susannah, 
leaving  the  roomj  and  in  a  short  time  she  returned  in  a 
Leghorn  bonnet  and  shawl  like  her  sister's.  "  Do  not  I 
prove  that  I  am  not  ungrateful,  Japhet,  since  to  do  credit 
to  thy  carriage,  I  am  content  to  depart  from  the  rules  of 
our  persuasion  ?  "  said  Susannah,  smiling. 

**  I  feel  the  kindness  and  the  sacrifice  you  are  making  to 
please  me,  Susannah,"  replied  I;  "but  let  us  lose  no 
time." 


396  Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father 

I  handed  her  down  to  the  carriage,  and  we  drove  to  the 
Park.  It  was  a  beautiful  day,  and  the  Park  was  filled 
with  pedestrians  as  well  as  carriages.  Susannah  was  much 
astonished,  as  well  as  pleased.  **  Now,  Susannah,"  said  I, 
"  if  you  were  to  call  this  Vanity  Fair,  you  would  not  be  far 
wrong ;  but  still,  recollect  that  even  all  this  is  productive 
of  much  good.  Reflect  how  many  industrious  people  find 
employment  and  provision  for  their  families  by  the  building 
of  these  gay  vehicles,  their  painting  and  ornamenting. 
How  many  are  employed  at  the  loom,  and  at  the  needle, 
in  making  these  costly  dresses.  This  vanity  is  the  cause 
of  wealth  not  being  hoarded,  but  finding  its  way  through 
various  channels,  so  as  to  produce  comfort  and  happiness 
to  thousands." 

"  Your  observations  are  just,  Japhet,  but  you  have 
lived  in  the  world,  and  seen  much  of  it.  I  am  as  one 
just  burst  from  an  egg-shell,  all  amazement.  I  have 
been  living  in  a  little  world  of  my  own  thoughts,  sur- 
rounded by  a  mist  of  ignorance,  and  not  being  able  to 
penetrate  farther,  have  considered  myself  wise  when  I 
was  not." 

"  My  dear  Susannah,  this  is  a  chequered  world,  but 
not  a  very  bad  one — there  is  in  it  much  of  good  as  well 
as  evil.  The  sect  to  which  you  belong  avoid  it — they 
know  it  not — and  they  are  unjust  towards  it.  During 
the  time  that  I  lived  at  Reading,  I  will  candidly  state 
to  you  that  I  met  with  many  who  called  themselves  of 
the  persuasion,  who  were  wholly  unworthy  of  it,  but  they 
made  up  in  outward  appearance  and  hypocrisy,  what  they 
wanted  in  their  conduct  to  their  fellow-creatures.  Believe 
me,  Susannah,  there  are  pious  and  good,  charitable 
and  humane,  conscientious  and  strictly  honourable  people 
among  those  who  now  pass  before  your  view  in  such  gay 
procession;  but  society  requires  that  the  rich  should 
spend  their  money  in  superfluities,  that  the  poor  may  be 
supported.  Be  not  deceived,  therefore,  in  future,  by 
the  outward  garments,  which  avail  nothing." 

"  You   have   induced   me   much  to   alter   my  opinions 


Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father  397 

already,  Japhet ;  so  has  that  pleasant  friend  of  thine, 
Mr  Masterton,  who  has  twice  called  since  we  have 
been  in  London ;  but  is  it  not  time  that  we  should 
return  ?  " 

"  It  is  indeed  later  than  I  thought  it  was,  Susannah," 
replied  I,  looking  at  my  watch,  "  and  I  am  afraid  that 
my  father  will  be  impatient  for  my  return.  I  will  order 
them  to  drive  home." 

As  we  drove  along,  leaning  against  the  back  of  the 
carriage,  my  hand  happened  to  touch  that  of  Susannah, 
which  lay  beside  her  on  the  cushion,  I  could  not  resist 
taking  it  in  mine,  and  it  was  not  withdrawn.  What  my 
thoughts  were,  the  reader  may  imagine ;  Susannah's  I 
cannot  acquaint  him  with ;  but  in  that  position  we  re- 
mained in  silence  until  the  carriage  stopped  at  Cophagus's 
door,  I  handed  Susannah  out  of  the  carriage,  and  went 
up  stairs  for  a  few  moments.  Mrs  Cophagus  and  her 
husband  were  out. 

"  Susannah,  this  is  very  kind  of  you,  and  I  return  you 
my  thanks.  I  never  felt  more  happy  than  when  seated 
with  you  in  that  carriage." 

**  I  have  received  both  amusement  and  instruction, 
Japhet,  and  ought  to  thank  you.  Do  you  know  what 
passed  in  my  mind  at  one  time  ?  " 

"  No— tell  me." 

**  When  I  first  knew  you,  and  you  came  among  us, 
I  was,  as  it  were,  the  guide,  a  presumptuous  one  perhaps 
to  you,  and  you  listened  to  me — now  it  is  reversed — 
now  that  we  are  removed  and  in  the  world,  it  is  you 
that  are  the  guide,  and  it  is  I  who  listen  and  obey." 

"  Because,  Susannah,  when  we  first  met  I  was  much 
in  error,  and  had  thought  too  little  of  serious  things, 
and  you  were  fit  to  be  my  guide  :  now  we  are  mixing 
in  the  world,  with  which  I  am  better  acquainted  than 
yourself.  You  then  corrected  me,  when  I  was  wrong  : 
I  now  point  out  to  you  where  you  are  not  rightly  in- 
formed :  but,  Susannah,  what  you  have  learnt  of  me  is 
as  nought  compared  with  the  valuable  precepts  which  I 


398  Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father 

gained  from  your  lips — precepts  which,  I  trust,  no  colHsion 
with  the  world  will  ever  make  me  forget." 

"  Oh  !  I  love  to  hear  you  say  that ;  I  was  fearful  that 
the  world  would  spoil  you,  Japhet ;  but  it  will  not — 
will  it  ? " 

"  Not  so  long  as  I  have  you  still  with  me,  Susannah : 
but  if  I  am  obliged  to  mix  again  with  the  world,  tell  me, 
Susannah,  will  you  reject  me  ? — will  you  desert  me  ? — 
will  you  return  to  your  own  people  and  leave  me  so 
exposed  ?  Susannah,  dearest,  you  must  know  how  long, 
how  dearly  I  have  loved  you : — you  know  that,  if  I  had 
not  been  sent  for  and  obliged  to  obey  the  message,  I 
would  have  lived  and  died  content  with  you.  "Will  you 
not  listen  to  me  now,  or  do  you  reject  me  ? " 

I  put  my  arm  round  her  waist,  her  head  fell  upon  my 
shoulder,  and  she  burst  into  tears.  "  Speak,  dearest, 
this  suspense  is  torture  to  me,"  continued  I. 

"  I  do  love  you,  Japhet,"  replied  she  at  last,  looking 
fondly  at  me  through  her  tears ;  "but  I  know  not 
whether  this  earthly  love  may  not  have  weakened  my 
affection  towards  Heaven.  If  so,  may  God  pardon  me, 
for  I  cannot  help  it." 

After  this  avowal,  for  a  few  minutes,  which  appeared 
seconds,  we  were  in  each  other's  arms,  when  Susannah 
disengaged  herself. 

"  Dearest  Japhet,  thy  father  will  be  much  dis- 
pleased." 

"I  cannot  help  it,"  replied  I,  "I  shall  submit  to  his 
displeasure." 

"  Nay,  but,  Japhet,  why  risk  thy  father's  wrath  ?" 

"  Well,  then,"  replied  I,  attempting  to  reach  her  lips, 
"  I  will  go." 

"  Nay,  nay — indeed,  Japhet,  you  exact  too  much — it 
is  not  seemly." 

"  Then  I  won't  go." 

**  Recollect  about  thy  father." 

"  It  is  you  who  detain  me,  Susannah." 

"  I  must  not  injure  thee  with  thy  father,  Japhet,  it 


Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father  399 

were  no  proof  of  my  affection — but,  indeed,  you  are 
self-willed." 

"  God  bless  you,  Susannah,"  said  I,  as  I  gained  the 
contested  point,  and  hastened  to  the  carriage. 

My  father  was  a  little  out  of  humour  when  I  returned, 
and  questioned  me  rather  sharply  as  to  where  I  had  been. 
I  half  pacified  him  by  delivering  Lord  Windermear's 
polite  message  ;  but  he  continued  his  interrogations,  and 
although  I  had  pointed  out  to  him  that  a  De  Benyon 
would  never  be  guilty  of  an  untruth,  I  am  afraid  I  told 
some  half  dozen  on  this  occasion ;  but  I  consoled  myself 
with  the  reflection,  that,  in  the  code  of  honour  of  a 
fashionable  man,  he  is  bound,  if  necessary,  to  tell  false- 
hoods where  a  lady  is  concerned ;  so  I  said  I  had  driven 
through  the  streets  looking  at  the  houses,  and  had  twice 
stopped  and  had  gone  in  to  examine  them.  My  father 
supposed  that  I  had  been  looking  out  for  a  house  for 
him,  and  was  satisfied.  Fortunately  they  were  job 
horses  ;  had  they  been  his  own  I  should  have  been  in  a 
severe  scrape.  Horses  are  the  only  part  of  an  establish- 
ment for  which  the  gentlemen  have  any  consideration, 
and  on  which  ladies  have  no  mercy. 

I  had  promised  the  next  day  to  dine  with  Mr  Masterton. 
My  father  had  taken  a  great  aversion  to  this  old  gentleman 
until  I  had  narrated  the  events  of  my  life,  in  which  he  had 
played  such  a  conspicuous  and  friendly  part.  Then,  to  do 
my  father  justice,  his  heart  warmed  towards  him. 

"  My  dear  sir,  I  have  promised  to  dine  out  to-day." 

"  With  whom,  Japhet  ? " 

"  Why,  sir,  to  tell  you  the  truth,  with  that  '  old  thief 
of  a  lawyer.' " 

"I  am  very  much  shocked  at  your  using  such  an 
expression  towards  one  who  has  been  such  a  sincere 
friend,  Japhet ;  and  you  will  oblige  me,  sir,  by  not  doing 
so  again  in  my  presence." 

"I  really  beg  your  pardon,  general,"  replied  I,  "but 
I  thought  to  please  you." 

"Please  me!    what  do  you  think  of  me?   please  me, 


400  Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father 

sir,  by  showing  yourself  ungrateful? — I  am  ashamed  of 
you,  sir." 

"  My  dear  father,  I  borrowed  the  expression  from  you. 
You  called  Mr  Masterton  *  an  old  thief  of  a  lawyer '  to 
his  face :  he  complained  to  me  of  the  language  before 
I  had  the  pleasure  of  meeting  you.  I  feel,  and  always 
shall  feel,  the  highest  respect,  love,  and  gratitude  towards 
him.     Have  I  your  permission  to  go  ? " 

"  Yes,  Japhet,"  replied  my  father,  looking  very  grave, 
"  and  do  me  the  favour  to  apologise  for  me  to  Mr 
Masterton  for  my  having  used  such  an  expression  in  my 
unfortunate  warmth  of  temper — I  am  ashamed  of  myself." 

**  My  dearest  father,  no  man  need  be  ashamed  who  is 
so  ready  to  make  honourable  reparation  : — we  are  all  a 
little  out  of  temper  at  times." 

**  You  have  been  a  kind  friend  to  me,  Japhet,  as  well 
as  a  good  son,"  replied  my  father,  with  some  emotion. 
"  Don't  forget  the  apology  at  all  events :  I  shall  be 
unhappy  until  it  be  made." 


Chapter   LXXVII 

Treats  of  apologies,  and  love  coming  from  church — We  finesse  with  the 
nabob  to  win  me  a  wife — I  am  successful  in  my  suit,  yet  the  lawyer  is 
still  to  play  the  cards  to  enable  me  to  win  the  game. 

I  ARRIVED  at  Mr  Masterton's,  and  walked  into  his  room, 
when  whom  should  I  find  in  company  with  him  but 
Harcourt. 

"Japhet,  I'm  glad  to  see  you:  allow  me  to  introduce 
you  to  Mr  Harcourt — Mr  De  Benyon,"  and  the  old 
gentleman  grinned  maliciously,  but  I  was  not  to  be 
taken  aback. 

"  Harcourt,"  said  I,  extending  my  hand,  "  I  have  to 
apologise  to  you  for  a  rude  reception  and  for  unjust 
suspicions,  but  I  was  vexed  at  the  time — if  you  will 
admit  that  as  an  excuse." 


Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father  401 

"My  dear  Japhet,"  replied  Harcourt,  taking  my  hand 
and  shaking  it  warmly,  "  I  have  to  apologise  to  you  for 
much  more  unworthy  behaviour,  and  it  will  be  a  great 
relief  to  my  mind  if  you  will  once  more  enrol  me  in  the 
list  of  your  friends." 

"And  now,  Mr  Masterton,"  said  I,  "as  apologies 
appear  to  be  the  order  of  the  day,  I  bring  you  one  from 
the  general,  who  has  requested  me  to  make  one  to  you 
for  having  called  you  an  old  thief  of  a  lawyer,  of  which 
he  was  totally  ignorant  until  I  reminded  him  of  it  to-day." 

Harcourt  burst  into  a  laugh. 

"  Well,  Japhet,  you  may  tell  your  old  tiger,  that  I  did 
not  feel  particularly  affronted,  as  I  took  his  expression 
professionally  and  not  personally,  and  if  he  meant  it  in  that 
sense,  he  was  not  far  wrong.  Japhet,  to-morrow  is 
Sunday  ;  do  you  go  to  meeting  or  to  church  ? " 

"  I  believe,  sir,  that  I  shall  go  to  church." 

"Well,  then,  come  with  me: — be  here  at  half-past 
two — we  will  go  to  evening  service  at  St  James's." 

"  I  have  received  many  invitations,  but  I  never  yet 
received  an  invitation  to  go  to  church,"  replied  I. 

"  You  will  hear  an  extra  lesson  of  the  day — a  portion 
of  Susannah  and  the  Elders." 

I  took  the  equivoque,  which  was  incomprehensible  to 
Harcourt :  I  hardly  need  say,  that  the  latter  and  I  were 
on  the  best  terms.  When  we  separated,  Harcourt  re- 
quested leave  to  call  upon  me  the  next  morning,  and  Mr 
Masterton  said  that  he  should  also  pay  his  respects  to  the 
tiger,  as  he  invariably  called  my  most  honoured  parent. 

Harcourt  was  with  me  very  soon  after  breakfast,  and 
after  I  had  introduced  him  to  my  "  Governor,"  we  retired 
to  talk  without  interruption. 

"  I  have  much  to  say  to  you,  De  Benyon,"  commenced 
Harcourt :  "  first  let  me  tell  you,  that  after  I  rose  from 
my  bed,  and  discovered  that  you  had  disappeared,  I 
resolved,  if  possible,  to  find  you  out  and  induce  you  to 
come  back.  Timothy,  who  looked  very  sly  at  me,  would 
tell  me  nothing,  but  that  the  last  that  was  heard  of  you 

F  2  C 


402  Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father 

was  at  Lady  de  Clare's,  at  Richmond.  Having  no  other 
clue,  I  went  down  there,  introduced  myself,  and,  as  they 
will  tell  you,  candidly  acknowledged  that  I  had  treated 
you  ill.  I  then  requested  that  they  would  give  me  any 
clue  by  which  you  might  be  found,  for  I  had  an  oppor- 
tunity of  offering  to  you  a  situation  which  was  at  my 
father's  disposal,  and  which  any  gentleman  might  have 
accepted,  although  it  was  not  very  lucrative." 

"  It  was  very  kind  of  you,  Harcourt." 

**Do  not  say  that,  I  beg.  It  was  thus  that  I  formed  an 
acquaintance  with  Lady  de  Clare  and  her  daughter,  whose 
early  history,  as  Fleta,  I  had  obtained  from  you,  but  who 
I  little  imagined  to  be  the  little  girl  that  you  had  so 
generously  protected ;  for  it  was  not  until  after  I  had 
deserted  you,  that  you  had  discovered  her  parentage.  The 
extreme  interest  relative  to  you  evinced  by  both  the  mother 
and  the  daughter  surprised  me.  They  had  heard  of  my 
name  from  you,  but  not  of  our  quarrel.  They  urged  me, 
and  thanked  me  for  proposing,  to  follow  you  and  find  you 
out :  I  did  make  every  attempt.  I  went  to  Brentford, 
inquired  at  all  the  public-houses,  and  of  all  the  coachmen 
who  went  down  the  road,  but  could  obtain  no  information, 
except  that  at  one  public-house,  a  gentleman  stopped  with 
a  portmanteau,  and  soon  afterwards  went  away  with  it  on 
his  shoulders.  I  returned  to  Richmond  with  the  tidings 
of  my  ill-success  about  a  week  after  I  had  first  called  there. 
Cecilia  was  much  affected  and  cried  very  bitterly.  I  could 
not  help  asking  Lady  de  Clare  why  she  took  such  a  strong 
interest  in  your  fortunes.  *  Who  ought,'  replied  Cecilia, 
*  if  his  poor  Fleta  does  not  ? '  *  Good  Heavens  !  Miss 
de  Clare,  are  you  the  little  Fleta  whom  he  found  with  the 
gipsies,  and  talked  to  me  so  much  about  ? '  *  Did  you  not 
know  it  ? '  said  Lady  de  Clare.  I  then  explained  to  her  all 
that  had  latterly  passed  between  us,  and  they  in  return 
communicated  your  events  and  dangers  in  Ireland.  Thus 
was  an  intimacy  formed,  and  ever  since  I  have  been  con- 
stantly welcome  at  their  house.  I  did  not,  however, 
abandon  my  enquiries  for  many  months,  when  I  thought 


Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father  403 

it  was  useless,  and  I  had  to  console  poor  Cecilia,  who 
constantly  mourned  for  you.  And  now,  Japhet,  I  must 
make  my  story  short  :  I  could  not  help  admiring  a  young 
person  who  showed  so  much  attachment  and  gratitude 
joined  to  such  personal  attractions,  but  she  was  an  heiress 
and  I  was  a  younger  brother.  Still  Lady  de  Clare  insisted 
upon  my  coming  to  the  house,  and  I  was  undecided  how 
to  act  when  the  unfortunate  death  of  my  elder  brother 
put  me  in  a  situation  to  aspire  to  her  hand.  After  that 
my  visits  were  more  frequent,  and  I  was  tacitly  received 
as  a  suitor  by  Lady  de  Clare,  and  had  no  reason  to 
complain  of  the  treatment  I  received  from  Cecilia.  Such 
was  the  position  of  affairs  until  the  day  on  which  you 
broke  in  upon  us  so  unexpectedly,  and  at  the  very  moment 
that  you  came  in,  I  had,  with  the  sanction  of  her  mother, 
made  an  offer  to  Cecilia,  and  was  anxiously  awaiting  an 
answer  from  her  own  dear  lips.  Can  you  therefore  be 
surprised,  Japhet,  at  there  being  a  degree  of  constraint  on 
all  sides  at  the  interruption  occasioned  by  the  presence  of 
one  who  had  long  been  considered  lost  to  us  ?  Or  that 
a  young  person  just  deciding  upon  the  most  important  step 
of  her  life  should  feel  confused  and  agitated  at  the  entrance 
of  a  third  party,  however  dear  he  might  be  to  her  as  a 
brother  and  benefactor  ? " 

"  I  am  perfectly  satisfied,  Harcourt,"  replied  I :  "  and  I 
will  go  there,  and  make  my  peace  as  soon  as  I  can." 

"  Indeed,  Japhet,  if  you  knew  the  distress  of  Cecilia  you 
would  pity  and  love  her  more  than  ever.  Her  mother  is 
also  much  annoyed.  As  soon  as  you  were  gone,  they 
desired  me  to  hasten  after  you  and  bring  you  back.  Cecilia 
had  not  yet  given  her  answer ;  I  requested  it  before  my 
departure,  but,  I  presume  to  stimulate  me,  she  declared 
that  she  would  give  me  no  answer,  until  I  re-appeared  with 
you.  This  is  now  three  weeks  ago,  and  I  have  not  dared 
to  go  there.  I  have  been  trying  all  I  can  to  see  you  again 
since  you  repulsed  me  at  the  Piazza,  but  without  success, 
until  I  went  to  Mr  Masterton,  and  begged  him  to  procure 
me  an  interview.     I  thank  God  it  has  succeeded." 


404  Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father 

"Well,  Harcourt,  you  shall  see  Cecilia  to-morrow 
morning,  if  you  please." 

"  Japhet,  what  obligations  I  am  under  to  you  !  Had  it 
not  been  for  you  I  never  should  have  known  Cecilia  ;  and 
more,  were  it  not  for  your  kindness,  I  might  perhaps  lose 
her  for  ever." 

"  Not  so,  Harcourt ;  it  was  your  own  good  feeling 
prompting  you  to  find  me  out,  which  introduced  you  to 
Cecilia,  and  I  wish  you  joy  with  all  my  heart.  This  is  a 
strange  world — who  would  have  imagined  that,  in  little 
Fleta,  I  was  picking  up  a  wife  for  a  man  whose  life  I 
nearly  took  away  ?  I  will  ask  my  governor  for  his  carriage 
to-morrow,  and  will  call  and  take  you  up  at  your  lodgings 
at  two  o'clock,  if  that  hour  will  suit  you.  I  will  tell  you 
all  that  has  passed  since  I  absconded,  when  we  are  at  Lady 
de  Clare's  ;  one  story  will  do  for  all." 

Harcourt  then  took  his  leave,  and  I  returned  to  my 
father,  with  whom  I  found  Lord  Windermear. 

"De  Benyon,  I  am  happy  to  see  you  again,"  said  his 
lordship.  "  I  have  just  been  giving  a  very  good  character 
of  you  to  the  general ;  I  hope  you  will  continue  to  deserve 
it." 

"  I  hope  so  too,  my  lord ;  I  should  be  ungrateful  indeed, 
if  I  did  not,  after  my  father's  kindness  to  me." 

Mr  Masterton  was  then  introduced :  Lord  Windermear 
shook  hands  with  him,  and  after  a  short  conversation  took 
his  leave. 

"  Japhet,"  said  Mr  Masterton  aside,  "  I  have  a  little 
business  with  your  father ;  get  out  of  the  room  any  way 
you  think  best." 

"  There  are  but  two  ways,  my  dear  sir,"  replied  I,  "  the 
door  or  the  windows :  with  your  permission,  I  will  select 
the  former,  as  most  agreeable  5 "  so  saying,  I  went  to  my 
own  room.  What  passed  between  the  general  and  Mr 
Masterton  I  did  not  know  until  afterwards,  but  they  were 
closeted  upwards  of  an  hour,  when  I  was  sent  for  by  Mr 
Masterton. 

"  Japhet,  you  said  you  would  go  with  me  to  hear  the 


Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father  405 

new  preacher ;  we  have  no  time  to  lose :  so,  general,  I 
shall  take  my  leave  and  run  away  with  your  son." 

I  followed  Mr  Masterton  into  his  carriage,  and  we  drove 
to  the  lodging  of  Mr  Cophagus.  Susannah  was  all  ready, 
and  Mr  Masterton  went  up  stairs  and  brought  her  down. 
A  blush  and  a  sweet  smile  illumined  her  features  when  she 
perceived  me  stowed  away  in  the  corner  of  the  chariot. 
We  drove  off,  and  somehow  or  another  our  hands  again 
met  and  did  not  separate  until  we  arrived  at  the  church 
door  Susannah  had  the  same  dress  on  as  when  she  had 
accompanied  me  in  my  father's  carriage.  I  went  through 
the  responses  with  her,  reading  out  of  the  same  book,  and 
I  never  felt  more  inclined  to  be  devout,  for  I  was  happy, 
and  grateful  to  Heaven  for  my  happiness.  When  the 
service  was  over,  we  were  about  to  enter  the  carriage,  when 
who  should  accost  us  but  Harcourt. 

"  You  are  surprised  to  see  me  here,"  said  he  to  Mr 
Masterton,  "  but  I  thought  there  must  be  something  very 
attractive,  that  you  should  make  an  appointment  with 
Japhet  to  go  to  this  church,  and  as  I  am  very  fond  of  a  good 
sermon,  I  determined  to  come  and  hear  it." 

Harcourt's  ironical  look  told  me  all  he  would  say. 

*'  Well,"  replied  Mr  Masterton,  "  I  hope  you  have  been 
edified — now  get  out  of  the  way,  and  let  us  go  into  the 
carriage." 

"  To-morrow  at  two,  De  Benyon,"  said  Harcourt,  taking 
another  peep  at  Susannah. 

"  Yes,  punctually,"  replied  I,  as  the  carriage  drove 
off. 

"  And  now,  my  dear  child,"  said  Mr  Masterton  to 
Susannah,  as  the  carriage  rolled  along,  "  tell  me,  have  you 
been  disappointed,  or  do  you  agree  with  me  ?  You  have 
attended  a  meeting  of  your  own  persuasion  this  morning — 
you  have  now,  for  the  first  time,  listened  to  the  ritual  of 
the  Established  Church.  To  which  do  you  give  the 
preference  ? " 

"  I  will  not  deny,  sir,  that  I  think,  in  departing  from  the 
forms   of  worship,  those   of  my  persuasion   did   not   do 


4o6  Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father 

wisely.  I  would  not  venture  thus  much  to  say,  but  you 
support  me  in  my  judgment." 

"  You  have  answered  like  a  good,  sensible  girl,  and  have 
proved  that  you  can  think  for  yourself;  but  observe,  my 
child,  I  have  persuaded  you  for  once,  and  once  only,  to 
enter  our  place  of  worship,  that  you  might  compare  and 
judge  for  yourself;  it  now  remains  for  you  to  decide  as  you 
please." 

"  I  would  that  some  better  qualified  would  decide  for 
me,"  replied  Susannah,  gravely. 

"  Your  husband,  Susannah,"  whispered  I,  "  must  take 
that  responsibility  upon  himself.  Is  he  not  the  proper 
person  ? " 

Susannah  slightly  pressed  my  hand,  which  held  hers,  and 
said  nothing.  As  soon  as  we  had  conveyed  her  home,  Mr 
Masterton  offered  to  do  me  the  same  kindness,  which  I 
accepted. 

"Now,  Japhet,  I  dare  say  that  you  would  like  to  know 
what  it  was  I  had  so  particular  to  say  to  the  old  general 
this  morning." 

"  Of  course  I  would,  sir,  if  it  concerned  me." 

**  It  did  concern  you,  for  we  had  not  been  two  minutes 
in  conversation,  before  you  were  brought  on  the  tapis ;  he 
spoke  of  you  with  tears  in  his  eyes — of  what  a  comfort  you 
had  been  to  him,  and  how  happy  you  had  made  him  ;  and 
that  he  could  not  bear  you  to  be  away  from  him  for  half 
an  hour.  On  that  hint  I  spake,  and  observed,  that  he  must 
not  expect  you  to  continue  in  retirement  long,  neither  must 
he  blame  you,  that  when  he  had  set  up  his  establishment, 
you  would  be  as  great  a  favourite  as  you  were  before,  and 
be  unable,  without  giving  offence,  to  refuse  the  numerous 
invitations  which  you  would  receive.  In  short,  that  it  was 
nothing  but  right  you  should  resume  your  position  in 
society,  and  it  was  his  duty  to  submit  to  it.  The  old 
governor  did  not  appear  to  like  my  observations,  and  said 
he  expected  otherwise  from  you.  I  replied  '  that  it  was 
impossible  to  change  our  natures,  and  the  other  sex  would 
naturally  have  attractions  which  you  would  not  be  able  to 


Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father  407 

resist,  and  that  they  would  occupy  a  large  portion  of  your 
time.  The  only  way  to  ensure  his  company,  my  dear  sir, 
is  to  marry  him  to  a  steady,  amiable  young  woman,  who, 
not  having  been  thrown  into  the  vortex  of  fashion,  will 
find  pleasure  in  domestic  life.  Then  her  husband  will 
become  equally  domestic,  and  you  wiJl  be  all  very  happy 
together.'  Your  father  agreed  with  me,  and  appeared  very 
anxious  that  it  should  take  place.  I  then  very  carefully 
introduced  Miss  Temple,  saying,  that  I  knew  you  had  a 
slight  partiality  in  that  quarter,  highly  commending  her 
beauty,  prudence,  &c.  I  stated,  that  feeling  an  interest 
about  you,  I  had  gone  down  into  the  country  where  she 
resided,  and  had  made  her  acquaintance,  and  had  been  much 
pleased  with  her  ;  that  since  she  had  come  up  to  town  with 
her  relations,  I  had  seen  a  great  deal,  and  had  formed  so 
high  an  opinion  of,  and  so  strong  an  attachment  to  her,  and 
had  felt  so  convinced  that  she  was  the  very  person  who 
would  make  you  happy  and  domestic,  that  having  no  family 
myself,  I  had  some  idea  of  adopting  her.  At  all  events, 
that  if  she  married  you,  I  was  determined  to  give  her  some- 
thing very  handsome  on  the  day  of  the  wedding." 

**  But,  my  dear  sir,  why  should  you  not  have  said  that 
Susannah  Temple  was  left  an  orphan  at  seven  years  old, 
and  her  fortune  has  accumulated  ever  since  ?  it  is  by 
no  means  despicable,  I  understand,  from  Mr  Cophagus; 
and  moreover,  Mr  Cophagus  intends  to  leave  her  all  his 
property." 

**  I  am  very  glad  to  hear  it,  Japhet,  and  will  not  fail  to 
communicate  all  this  to  your  father ;  but  there  is  no  reason 
why  I  may  not  do  as  I  please  with  my  own  money — and  I 
love  that  girl  dearly.  By-the~bye,  have  you  ever  said  any- 
thing to  her  ? " 

**  O  yes,  sir,  we  are  pledged  to  each  other." 

"That's  all  right;  I  thought  so,  when  I  saw  your 
fingers  hooked  together  in  the  carriage.  But  now,  Japhet, 
I  should  recommend  a  little  indifference — not  exactly 
opposition,  when  your  father  proposes  the  subject  to  you. 
It  will  make  him  more  anxious,  and  when  you  consent 


4o8  Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father 

more  obliged  to  you.  I  have  promised  to  call  upon  him 
to-morrow,  on  that  and  other  business,  and  you  had  better 
be  out  of  the  way." 

"  I  shall  be  out  of  the  way,  sir  5  I  mean  to  go  with 
Harcourt  to  Lady  de  Clare's.    I  shall  ask  for  the  carriage." 

**  He  will  certainly  lend  it  to  you,  as  he  wishes  to  get 
rid  of  you  j  but  here  we  are.     God  bless  you,  my  boy." 


Chapter  LXXVIII 

The  Bengal  tiger  taken  in  the  toils,  which  promise  a  speedy  end  to  mine — 
I  kindly  permit  my  father  to  insist  upon  the  marriage  that  I  have  set  my 
heart  upon. 

I  FOUND  my  father,  who  had  now  completely  recovered 
from  his  accident,  walking  up  and  down  the  room  in  a 
brown  study.  He  did  not  speak  to  me  until  after  dinner, 
when  he  commenced  with  asking  some  questions  relative 
to  Cecilia  de  Clare.  I  replied,  "  that  I  intended,  if  he  did 
not  want  the  carriage,  to  call  there  to-morrow  with  Mr 
Harcourt." 

"  Is  she  very  handsome  ?  "  inquired  he. 

"Very  much  so,  sir.  I  do  not  think  I  ever  saw  a 
handsomer  young  person.     Yes,  I  do  recollect  one." 

"Who  was  that?" 

"  A  young  lady  with  whom  I  was  slightly  acquainted, 
when  living  in  the  country." 

"  I  have  been  thinking,  my  dear  boy,  that  with  the 
competence  which  you  will  have,  it  is  right  that  you 
should  marry  early ;  in  so  doing  you  will  oblige  your 
father,  who  is  anxious  to  see  his  grandchildren  before  he 
dies.     My  health  is  not  very  good." 

I  could  not  help  smiling  at  this  pathetic  touch  of  the  old 
governor's,  who,  if  one  could  judge  from  appearances,  was 
as  strong  as  a  lion,  and  likely  to  last  almost  as  long  as  his 
dutiful  son.  Moreover,  his  appetite  was  enormous,  and 
he  invariably  finished   his    bottle  every  day.     I  did  not 


Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father  409 

therefore  feel  any  serious  alarm  as  to  his  health,  but  I 
nevertheless  replied,  "  Matrimony  is  a  subject  upon  which 
I  have  never  thought  " — (ahem  !  a  De  Benyon  never  tells 
an  untruth !),  "  I  am  very  young  yet,  and  am  too  happy 
to  remain  with  you." 

"But,  my  dear  boy,  I  propose  that  you  shall  remain 
with  me — we  will  all  live  together.  I  do  not  intend  that 
we  shall  part.  I  really  wish,  Japhet,  you  would  think 
seriously  of  it." 

**  My  dear  father,  allow  me  to  observe,  that  at  present 
I  am  not  in  a  situation  to  support  a  wife,  and  I  should  be 
sorry  to  be  a  tax  upon  you,  at  your  age;  you  require 
many  comforts  and  luxuries,  and  I  presume  that  you  live 
up  to  your  income." 

**  Then,  my  dear  fellow,  you  are  under  a  great  mistake. 
I  can  lay  down  one  hundred  thousand  pounds  on  the  day 
of  your  marriage,  with  any  lady  whom  I  approve  of,  and 
still  not  spend  half  my  remaining  income." 

"That,  sir,"  replied  I,  "certainly  removes  one  difficulty, 
at  the  same  time  that  it  proves  what  a  generous  and 
indulgent  father  I  am  blessed  with;  but,  sir,  with  such 
a  fortune,  I  have  a  right  to  expect  that  the  lady  will  also 
bring  a  handsome  addition.  Miss  De  Clare  is  engaged,  I 
believe,  to  Mr  Harcourt,  or  I  might  have  made  strong 
interest  in  that  quarter." 

"  Something,  my  dear  boy ;  but  a  moderate  fortune 
now-a-days  is  all  that  we  expect  with  wives,  and  the  best 
wives  are  those  who  are  not  born  to  too  much  wealth ; 
still  she  should  bring  something;  but  tell  me,  Japhet, 
who  is  that  young  lady  whom  you  thought  handsomer 
than  Miss  De  Clare  ? " 

"  A  Miss  Temple,  sir." 

**  Temple — it  is  a  very  good  name.  I  think  girls 
brought  up  in  the  country  make  the  best  wives." 

"  They  do,  sir,  most  certainly ;  they  are  more  domestic, 
and  make  their  husbands  more  content  and  happy  at 
home." 

**  Well,  my  dear  boy,  I  have  mentioned  the  subject,  and 


41  o  Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father 

wish  you  would  think  of  it.  You  will  please  me 
much." 

"My  dear  father,  I  shall  be  most  happy  to  obey  in 
everything  else,  but  in  so  serious  a  point  as  uniting  myself 
for  life,  I  think  you  must  allow  that  a  little  discretionary 
power  should  be  given  to  a  son.  All  I  can  say  is  this, 
show  me  a  young  person  who  is  eligible,  and  if  I  find  that 
I  can  love  her,  I  will  not  refuse  to  obey  your  wishes." 

"  Well,  sir,  do  as  you  please,"  replied  my  father,  very 
angrily  ;  "  but  I  think,  sir,  when  I  desire  you  to  fall  in 
love,  it  is  your  duty  to  obey." 

**  Suppose  I  was  to  fall  in  love  with  a  person  you  did 
not  like,  would  you  allow  me  to  marry  her  ? " 

"  Most  certainly  not,  sir." 

"Then,  sir,  is  it  reasonable  to  expect  me  to  marry 
without  being  in  love  ?  " 

"  I  did  not  marry  for  love,  sir." 

"  No,"  replied  I,  forgetting  myself  a  little  ;  "  and  a 
pretty  mess  you  made  of  it," 

**  I  did,"  rejoined  my  father  in  a  rage,  **  by  begetting 
an  undutiful,  good-for-nothing,  graceless,  insolent,  un- 
grateful son." 

"  My  dear  father,  I  was  not  aware  that  I  had  a  brother." 

"  I  mean  you,  sir." 

"To  prove  to  you  how  unjust  you  are,  sir,  and  how 
little  I  deserve  what  you  have  called  me,  I  now  promise 
you  to  marry  as  soon  as  you  wish." 

"  Thank  you,  my  boy,  that's  kind  of  you ;  but  I  will 
say  that  you  are  a  comfort  and  a  treasure  to  me,  and  I 
bless  the  day  that  brought  you  to  my  arms.  Well,  then, 
look  about  you." 

"  No,  sir,  I  leave  it  all  to  you ;  select  the  party,  and  I 
am  willing  to  obey  you." 

"  My  dear  boy !  Well,  then,  Fli  talk  the  matter  over 
with  Mr  Masterton  to-morrow,"  and  the  general  shook  me 
warmly  by  the  hand. 

The  next  day  I  picked  up  Harcourt,  and  proceeded  to 
Park  Street.     A  note  from  him  had  informed  them  of  our 


Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father  411 

intended  visit,  and  other  visitors  had  been  denied.  *'  All 
has  been  explained,  Cecilia,"  said  I,  after  the  first  greeting: 
"  I  was  very  wrong,  and  very  foolish." 

"  And  made  me  very  miserable.  I  little  thought  that 
you,  Japhet,  would  have  made  me  cry  so  much ;  but  I 
forgive  you  for  it,  as  I  would  a  thousand  times  as  much 
more.  Now  sit  down  and  tell  us  all  that  has  happened 
since  you  left  us." 

"Not  yet,  my  dear  Cecilia.  You,  as  well  as  I,  owe 
a  reparation  to  poor  Harcourt,  whom,  I  think,  you  have 
treated  cruelly.  You  were  about  to  answer  a  question 
of  vital  moment  when  I  broke  in  upon  you,  and  you  have 
since  kept  him  in  a  state  of  cruel  suspense  for  more  than 
three  weeks,  refusing  him  an  answer  until  he  brought 
me  into  your  presence.  An  hour  of  such  suspense  must 
be  dreadful,  and  before  we  sit  down,  I  wish  everyone 
should  feel  comfortable  and  happy." 

"  It  was  not  altogether  to  stimulate  Mr  Harcourt  to 
bring  you  back,  which  induced  me  to  refuse  to  answer 
his  question,  Japhet.  I  considered  that  your  return  had 
rendered  it  necessary  that  it  should  be  deferred  until 
I  saw  you.  I  have  not  forgotten,  Japhet,  and  never  shall 
forget,  what  I  was  when  you  rescued  me;  and  when 
I  think  what  I  might  have  been  had  you  not  saved  me, 
I  shudder  at  the  bare  idea.  I  have  not  forgotten  how 
you  risked,  and  nearly  lost  your  life  in  Ireland  for  my 
sake — neither  has  my  mother.  We  are  beholden  to  you 
for  all  our  present  happiness,  and  I  am  eternally  indebted 
to  you  for  rescuing  me  from  ignorance,  poverty,  and, 
perhaps,  vice.  You  have  been  more,  much  more  than 
a  father  to  me — more,  much  more  than  a  brother.  I  am, 
as  it  were,  a  creature  of  your  own  fashioning,  and  I  owe 
to  you  that  which  I  never  can  repay.  When,  then,  you 
returned  so  unexpectedly,  Japhet,  I  felt  that  you  had  a 
paramount  right  in  my  disposal,  and  I  was  glad  that  I 
had  not  replied  to  Mr  Harcourt,  as  I  wished  first  for 
your  sanction  and  approval.  I  know  all  that  has  passed 
between  you,  but  I  know  not  your  real  feelings  towards 


412  Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father 

Mr  Harcourt ;  he  acknowledges  that  he  treated  you  very 
ill,  and  it  was  his  sincere  repentance  of  having  so  done, 
and  his  praise  of  you,  which  first  won  my  favour.  And 
now,  Japhet,  if  you  have  still  animosity  against  Mr 
Harcourt — if  you " 

"  Stop,  my  dear  Fleta,  I  will  answer  all  your  questions 
at  once."  I  took  Harcourt's  hand,  and  placed  it  in  her's. 
"  May  God  bless  you  both,  and  may  you  be  happy  !  " 

Cecilia  threw  her  arms  round  me  and  wept ;  so  did 
everybody  else,  I  believe.  It  was  lucky  for  Harcourt 
that  I  was  in  love  with  Susannah  Temple.  As  soon  as 
Cecilia  had  recovered  a  little,  I  kissed  her,  and  passed 
her  over  to  her  right  owner,  who  led  her  to  the  sofa. 
Lady  de  Clare  and  I  went  out  of  the  room  on  important 
business,  and  did  not  return  for  a  quarter  of  an  hour. 
When  we  returned,  Cecilia  went  to  her  mother  and 
embraced  her,  while  Harcourt  silently  squeezed  my 
hand.  We  then  all  sat  down,  and  I  gave  them  an 
account  of  all  that  had  passed  during  my  second  ex- 
cursion— how  I  had  nearly  been  hanged — how  I  had 
gone  mad — how  I  had  turned  Quaker  and  apothecary — 
which  they  all  agreed,  with  what  had  happened  to  me 
before,  made  up  a  very  eventful  history. 

"  And,  Japhet,  if  it  be  a  fair  question  about  one  so 
fair,  was  that  Miss  Temple  who  was  at  church  with  you 
yesterday  ? " 

"  It  was." 

"  Then,  Cecilia,  if  ever  she  appears  in  the  same  circle, 
except  in  my  eyes,  your  beauty  will  stand  in  some  danger 
of  being  eclipsed." 

**  How  can  you  say,  except  in  your  eyes,  Mr  Harcourt," 
replied  Cecilia,  "the  very  observation  proves  that  it  is 
eclipsed  in  your  eyes,  whatever  it  may  be  in  those  of 
others.  Now,  as  a  punishment,  I  have  a  great  mind  to 
order  you  away  again,  until  you  bring  her  face  to  face, 
that  I  may  judge  myself." 

"If  I  am  again  banished,"  replied  Harcourt,  "  I  shall 
have  a  second  time  to  appeal  to  De  Benyon  to  be  able  to 


Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father  413 

come  back  again.  He  can  produce  her,  I  have  no 
doubt." 

"  And  perhaps  may,  some  of  these  days,  Cecilia." 

"  Oh  !  do,  Japhet.     I  will  love  her  so." 

**  You  must  wait  a  little  first.  I  am  not  quite  so  far 
advanced  as  you  and  Harcourt.  I  have  not  received  the 
consent  of  all  parties,  as  you  have  to-day.  But  I  must 
now  leave  you.  Harcourt,  I  presume  you  will  dine  here. 
I  must  dine  with  my  governor." 

On  my  return,  I  found  that  the  table  was  laid  for  three, 
and  that  the  general  had  asked  Mr  Masterton,  from  which 
I  augured  well.  Masterton  could  not  speak  to  me  when 
he  arrived,  but  he  gave  me  a  wink  and  a  smile,  and  I 
was  satisfied.  "  Japhet,"  said  my  father,  "  you  have  no 
engagement  to-morrow,  I  hope,  because  I  shall  call  at 
Mr  Masterton's  on  business,  and  wish  you  to  accompany 
me. 

I  replied,  that  "I  should  be  most  happy,"  and  the 
conversation  became  general. 

I  accompanied  my  father  the  next  day  to  Lincoln's  Inn, 
and  when  we  went  up,  we  found  Mr  Masterton  at  the 
table  with  Mr  Cophagus,  and  Susannah  sitting  apart  near 
the  window.  "The  plot  thickens,"  thought  I.  The 
fact  was,  as  I  was  afterwards  told  by  Mr  Masterton,  he 
had  prevailed  upon  Cophagus  to  pretend  business,  and 
to  bring  Susannah  with  him,  and  appointed  them  a  quarter 
of  an  hour  before  our  time.  This  he  had  arranged,  that 
the  general  might  see  Miss  Temple,  as  if  by  accident; 
and  also  allow  me,  who,  my  father  supposed,  was  not 
aware  of  Miss  Temple  being  in  town,  to  meet  with  her. 
What  a  deal  of  humbug  there  is  in  this  world  !  Nothing 
but  plot  and  counterplot !  I  shook  hands  with  Cophagus, 
who,  I  perceived,  had,  notwithstanding  his  wife's  veto, 
put  on  his  blue  cotton  net  pantaloons  and  Hessian  boots, 
and  he  appeared  to  be  so  tight  in  both,  that  he  could 
hardly  move.  As  far  as  I  could  judge,  his  legs  had  not 
improved  since  I  had  last  seen  them  in  this  his  favourite 
dress. 


414  Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father 

"Mr  De  Benyon,  I  believe  that  you  have  met  Miss 
Temple  before,"  said  Mr  Masterton,  winking  at  me. 
"  In  Berkshire,  was  it  not  ?  Miss  Temple,  allow  me 
to  introduce  General  De  Benyon." 

I  went  up  to  Susannah,  who  coloured  and  trembled  at 
the  sight  of  my  father,  as  I  expressed  my  hope  that  she  had 
been  well  since  we  last  met.  She  perceived  that  there  was 
some  planned  scheme,  and  was  so  puzzled  that  she  said 
nothing.  My  father  then  spoke  to  her,  and  after  a  short 
time  took  a  chair,  and  seated  himself  close  to  her.  I  never 
knew  her  make  herself  so  agreeable.  He  asked  her  where 
she  was  staying,  and  when  he  heard  that  it  was  with  Mr 
Cophagus,  he  said  that  he  should  have  the  pleasure  of 
calling  upon  Mr  Cophagus,  and  thank  him  for  his  kind 
information  relative  to  me.  Shortly  afterwards  Cophagus 
took  his  leave,  and  Susannah  rose  to  accompany  him, 
when  my  father,  hearing  that  they  had  walked,  insisted 
upon  putting  Miss  Temple  down  in  his  carriage.  So  that 
Mr  Cophagus  had  to  walk  home  one  way,  and  I  the  other. 


Chapter  LXXXI 

Poor  Cophagus  finds  an  end  to  his  adventures  by  the  means  of  a  mad  bull ; 
I,  of  mine,  by  matrimony — Father  is  prettily  behaved,  and  my  Quaker 
wife  the  most  fashionably  dressed  lady  in  town — verily  !  hum  ! 

Alas  !  little  did  Mr  Cophagus  know  how  fatal  to  him 
would  be  the  light  cotton  nets  when  he  put  them  on  that 
day.  He  had  proceeded,  as  it  appears,  about  two-thirds 
of  his  way  home  (he  lived  in  Welbeck  Street),  when  he 
perceived  a  rush  from  up  a  street  leading  into  Oxford 
Street.  He  looked  to  ascertain  the  cause,  when  to  his 
horror  he  perceived — what  to  him  was  the  greatest  of  all 
horrors — a  mad  bull.  If  anything  could  make  Mr  Cophagus 
run,  it  was  a  sight  like  that,  and  he  did  run ;  but  he  could 
not  run  fast  in  his  cotton  nets  and  tight  Hessians,  which 
crippled  him  altogether.     As  if  out  of  pure  spite,  the  bull 


Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father  415 

singled  him  out  from  at  least  one  hundred,  who  exerted 
their  agility  and  again  was  poor  Mr  Cophagus  tossed  far 
behind  the  animal,  fortunately  breaking  his  fall  by  tumbling 
on  a  large  dog  who  was  in  full  chase.  The  dog,  who  was 
unable  to  crawl  from  beneath  the  unfortunate  Cophagus, 
was  still  in  a  condition  to  bite,  which  he  did  most  furiously  : 
and  the  butcher,  who  had  an  affection  for  his  dog,  when 
he  perceived  its  condition,  also  vented  his  fury  upon  poor 
Cophagus,  by  saluting  him  with  several  blows  on  his  head 
with  his  cudgel.  What  between  the  bull,  the  dog,  and 
the  butcher,  poor  Mr  Cophagus  was  taken  into  a  shop  in  a 
very  deplorable  condition.  After  some  time  he  recovered, 
and  was  able  to  name  his  residence,  when  he  was  taken 
home. 

It  was  late  in  the  evening  when  I  received  a  note  from 
Susannah,  informing  me  of  that  unfortunate  accident.  My 
father  had  just  finished  a  long  story  about  filial  duty, 
country  girls,  good  wives,  &c.,  and  had  wound  up  by 
saying,  that  he  and  Mr  Masterton  both  considered  that 
Miss  Temple  would  be  a  very  eligible  match,  and  that  as 
I  had  requested  him  to  select,  he  had  selected  her  accord- 
ingly. I  had  just  proved  how  truly  dutiful  I  was,  by 
promising  to  do  all  I  could  to  love  her,  and  to  fulfil  his 
wishes,  when  the  note  was  put  in  my  hands.  I  read  it, 
stated  its  contents  to  my  father,  and,  with  his  permission, 
immediately  jumped  into  a  hackney-coach,  and  drove  to 
Welbeck  Street. 

On  my  arrival  I  found  poor  Mrs  Cophagus  in  a  state  of 
syncope,  and  Susannah  attending  her.  I  sent  for  the 
surgeon  who  had  been  called  in,  and  then  went  up  to  Mr 
Cophagus.  He  was  much  better  than  I  expected — calm, 
and  quite  sensible.  His  wounds  had  been  dressed  by  the 
surgeon,  but  he  did  not  appear  to  be  aware  of  the  extent 
of  the  injury  he  had  received.  When  the  surgeon  came  I 
questioned  him.  He  informed  me  that  although  much 
hurt,  he  did  not  consider  that  there  was  any  danger  to  be 
apprehended  ;  there  were  no  bones  broken ;  the  only  fear 
that  he  had  was,  that  there  might  be  some  internal  injury  ^ 


41 6  Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father 

but  at  present  that  could  not  be  ascertained.  I  thanked 
him,  and  consoled  Mrs  Cophagus  with  this  information. 
I  then  returned  to  her  husband,  who  shook  his  head,  and 
muttered,  as  I  put  my  ear  down  to  hear  him,  "  Thought 
so — come  to  London — full  of  mad  bulls — tossed — die — 
and  so  on." 

"  O  no  !  "  replied  I,  "  the  surgeon  says  that  there  is  no 
danger.  You  will  be  up  in  a  week — but  now  you  must 
keep  very  quiet.     I  will  send  Mrs  Cophagus  to  you." 

I  went  out,  and  finding  her  composed,  I  desired  her  to 
go  to  her  husband,  who  wished  to  see  her,  and  I  was  left 
alone  with  Susannah.  I  told  her  all  that  had  passed,  and 
after  two  delightful  hours  had  escaped,  I  returned  home 
to  the  hotel.  My  father  had  waited  up  for  some  time, 
and  finding  that  I  did  not  return,  had  retired.  When  I 
met  him  the  next  morning  I  mentioned  what  the  surgeon 
had  said,  but  stated  that,  in  my  opinion,  there  was  great 
cause  for  alarm  in  a  man  of  Mr  Cophagus's  advanced  age. 
My  father  agreed  with  me,  but  could  not  help  pointing 
out  what  a  good  opportunity  this  would  afford  for  my 
paying  my  attentions  to  Miss  Temple,  as  it  was  natural 
that  I  should  be  interested  about  so  old  a  friend  as  Mr 
Cophagus.  My  filial  duty  inclined  me  to  reply,  that  I 
should  certainly  avail  myself  of  such  a  favourable  oppor- 
tunity. 

My  adventures  are  now  drawing  to  a  close.  I  must  pass 
over  three  months,  during  which  my  father  had  taken  and 
furnished  a  house  in  Grosvenor  Square ;  and  I,  whenever 
I  could  spare  time,  had,  under  the  auspices  of  Lord 
Windermear,  again  been  introduced  into  the  world  as  Mr 
De  Benyon.  I  found  that  the  new  name  was  considered 
highly  respectable,  my  father's  hall  tables  were  loaded 
with  cards,  and  I  even  received  two  dinner  invitations 
from  Lady  Maelstrom,  who  told  me  how  her  dear  nieces 
had  wondered  what  had  become  of  me,  and  that  they 
were  afraid  that  Louisa  would  have  fallen  into  a  decline. 
And  during  these  three  months  Cecilia  and  Susannah  had 
been  introduced,  and  had  become  as  inseparable  as  most 


Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father  417 

young  ladies  are,  who  have  a  lover  a-piece,  and  no  cause 
for  jealousy.  Mr  Cophagus  had  so  far  recovered  as  to 
be  able  to  go  down  into  the  country,  vowing,  much  to 
the  chagrin  of  his  wife,  that  he  never  would  put  his 
foot  in  London  again.  He  asked  me  whether  I  knew 
any  place  where  there  were  no  mad  hulls ^  and  I  took  some 
trouble  to  find  out,  but  I  could  not ;  for  even  if  he  went 
to  the  North  Pole,  although  there  were  no  bulls,  yet 
there  were  bull  bisons  and  musk  bulls,  which  were  even 
more  savage.  Upon  which  he  declared  that  this  was  not 
a  world  to  live  in,  and  to  prove  that  he  was  sincere  in 
his  opinion,  poor  fellow,  about  three  months  after  his 
retirement  into  the  country,  he  died  from  a  general 
decay,  arising  from  the  shock  produced  on  his  system. 
But  before  these  three  months  had  passed,  it  had  been 
finally  arranged  that  Harcourt  and  I  were  to  be  united 
on  the  same  day  ;  and  having  renewed  my  acquaintance 
with  the  good  bishop,  whom  I  had  taxed  with  being  my 
father,  he  united  us  both  to  our  respective  partners.  My 
father  made  over  to  me  the  sum  which  he  had  mentioned. 
Mr  Masterton  gave  Susannah  ten  thousand  pounds,  and 
her  own  fortune  amounted  to  as  much  more,  with 
the  reversion  of  Mr  Cophagus's  property  at  the  decease 
of  his  widow.  Timothy  came  up  to  the  wedding,  and 
I  formally  put  him  in  the  possession  of  my  shop  and 
stock  in  trade,  and  he  has  now  a  flourishing  business. 
Although  he  has  not  yet  found  his  mother,  he  has  found 
a  very  pretty  wife,  which  he  says  does  quite  as  well,  if 
not  better. 

Let  it  not  be  supposed  that  I  forgot  the  good  services 
of  Kathleen — who  was  soon  after  married  to  Corny.  A 
small  farm  on  Fleta's  estate  was  appropriated  to  them, 
at  so  low  a  rent,  that  in  a  few  years  they  were  able  to 
purchase  the  property,  and  Corny,  from  a  leveller,  as 
soon  as  he  was  comfortable,  became  one  of  the  govern- 
ment's firmest  supporters. 

I  am  now  living  in  the  same  house  with  my  father, 
who   is    very  happy,   and   behaves   pretty  well.      He   is 

F  2D 


41 8  Japhet,  in  Search  of  a  Father 

seldom  in  a  passion  more  than  twice  a-week,  which  we 
consider  as  miraculous.  Now  that  I  am  writing  this,  he 
has  his  two  grandchildren  on  his  knees.  Mrs  Cophagus 
has  married  a  captain  in  the  Life  Guards,  and  as  far  as 
fashion  and  dress  are  concerned,  may  be  said  to  be  "  going 
the  whole  hog."  And  now,  as  I  have  no  doubt  that  my 
readers  will  be  curious  to  know  whether  my  lovely 
wife  adheres  to  her  primitive  style  of  dress,  I  shall  only 
repeat  a  conversation  of  yesterday  night,  as  she  came 
down  arrayed  for  a  splendid  ball  given  by  Mrs  Harcourt 
de  Clare. 

"  Tell  me  now,  De  Benyon,"  said  she,  **  is  not  this 
a  pretty  dress  ?  " 

"  Yes,  my  dear,"  replied  I,  looking  at  her  charming 
face  and  figure  with  all  the  admiration  usual  in  the 
honeymoon,  "it  is  indeed  ;  but  do  you  not  think,  my 
dear  Susan,"  said  I,  putting  the  tip  of  my  white  glove 
upon  her  snowy  shoulder,  "  that  it  is  cut  down  a  little 
too  low  ?  " 

"  Too   low,    De   Benyon  !    why   it's   not  half  so  low 

as   Mrs  Harcourt   de  Clare   or  Lady  C wear    their 

dresses." 

"  Well,  my  dear,  I  did  not  assert  that  it  was.  I  only 
asked." 

"Well,  then,  if  you  only  asked  for  information,  De 
Benyon,  I  will  tell  you  that  it  is  not  too  low,  and  I  think 
you  will  acknowledge  that  on  this  point  my  opinion  ought 
to  be  decisive  ;  for  if  I  have  no  other  merit,  I  have  at 
least  the  merit  of  being  the  best  -  dressed  woman  in 
London." 

"  Verily  thou  persuadest  me,  Susannah,"  replied  I. 

"  Now,  De  Benyon,  hold  your  tongue." 

Like  a  well-disciplined  husband,  I  bowed,  and  said  no 
more.  And  now,  having  no  more  to  say,  I  shall  also 
make  my  bow  to  my  readers,  and  bid  them  farewell. 

THE    END. 


printed  by 

turneull  and  spears, 

ed:nbukgh 


t/ 


